Team Mexico at home against U.S. at Houston’s Daikin Park
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- March 9, 2026
Mexico set to face Team USA in WBC
HOUSTON – A few hours before Daikin Park reverberated with a loud, collective rendition of the Mexican national anthem Sunday evening, a look inside the Astros’ team store provided a clue to what awaits Team USA.
A wall of blue Team USA hats was neatly filled, as if untouched. The adjacent wall dedicated to the green Team Mexico hats was picked over on the eve of the Pool B game between the U.S. and its southern neighbors.
Team USA will be the home team. Mexico, however, is never truly a road team in Houston, where the Astros have arguably the second largest Mexican and Mexican American fan base in the major leagues.
“I bet everybody that the stadium will be sold out,” Mexico manager Benji Gil said in Spanish after a 16-0 victory over Brazil late Sunday night. “Is it going to be sold out because of Mexico or because of the United States? It’s going to be sold out because Mexico is facing a great team.”
A night of classic Mexican songs
Similar to Mexico’s men’s national soccer team, El Tri is rarely treated as a visitor in the United States. Mexico drew the largest crowd of the first three days of Pool B play against Brazil.
The 36,380 created a festive atmosphere from the first pitch until Team Mexico was serenaded with “El Rey” after Julian Ornelas hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to end the game via mercy rule.
In between, the crowd also sang Ramon Ayala’s “Tragos Amargos,” a classic about drinking after heartbreak. Gil joked that the only problem with hearing all those classics was his desire to go drink tequila. You cannot drink water hearing those songs, he joked.
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There has been no heartbreak for Mexico (2-0 in Pool B play) so far in the 2026 WBC. Gil’s squad scored four runs while batting around in the first inning. It only got worse from there for Brazil. Mexico scored six runs in the fourth to go ahead 11-0.
Gil then emptied his bench. After scoring once in the fifth, Mexico added four more runs in the sixth to set off “El Rey.”
Monday night “is probably going to be similar to tonight but times two or times three,” Mexico outfielder Alek Thomas said after going 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and three RBIs. “The Mexican crowd always shows out.
“This seems like the place that Mexico fans like to go crazy. So I’m looking forward to tomorrow, and it’s going to be lit.”
History on Mexico’s side
Mexico is 3-1 all-time against the U.S. in WBC history. Team USA hasn’t beaten Mexico in the WBC since a 2-0 victory in the inaugural tournament in 2006. Mexico avenged that loss with a 2-1 victory in the second round of that WBC.
“No question, the U.S. has had their hands full with (Mexico) in this tournament the last couple of installments of it,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said. “I certainly haven’t forgotten about it. I know Kyle (Schwarber) probably (thinks) the same.
“So got the right guy on the mound in Paul Skenes, a stacked bullpen, awesome lineup. And we’ll get after it.”
Mexico beat the U.S. 5-2 in 2013. Mexico then beat the defending WBC champions 11-5 in pool play in 2023 to set the tone for Mexico’s first trip to the WBC semifinals.
Memorable loss in 2023
“Yeah, I won’t forget that game,” Schwarber said. “That was a pretty cool one. … The WBC sticks out most just for the fact that, that was the first time I’ve ever seen that stadium full, obviously playing for our countries. And it felt like there was a lot more fans there from Mexico than there were for the U.S.”
Gil didn’t name his starting pitcher against the U.S. until after the victory over Brazil. Right-hander Manny Barreda will start against the U.S. A day earlier, DeRosa said he wasn’t worried about Gil’s starting pitcher.
“Honestly, I think we have the best 30 players in the world in that clubhouse,” DeRosa said. “And they’re coming together as a team. I don’t really think it’s going to matter who (Gil) starts. We’re going to put a lineup out there and get after it.”
Gil said he and DeRosa shouldn’t care who the other is starting.
U.S. roster full of superstars
“That they have the best 30 players in the world? I think the Dominican has something to say about that,” Gil said. “I think Japan has something to say about that. I don’t know if they have the best 30 players.
“The Dominican is off to a fast start. Japan is off to a fast start. Venezuela is off to a fast start. Perhaps they are the best players in the world. We just have to be the best players that day.”
Gil noted that DeRosa’s roster is full of superstars, MVP candidates, Cy Young winners, Gold Glove winners and Silver Slugger Award winners.
“But,” Gil said, “this isn’t about jewels. It’s about winning the game. We will go out and give our best. If it’s enough, that’s great. If it’s not enough, we will give our best.”
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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