Mexican boxing champion Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez publicly backed the Mexican national football team on June 18, 2026, ahead of their crucial second-round World Cup match against South Korea at Guadalajara Stadium.
Álvarez, who attended the opening match at the Ciudad de México stadium alongside his wife Fernanda Gómez, posted on his social media accounts that "today is a win" in Guadalajara.
The local crowd previously cheered the fighter in his luxury suite during the tournament opener, where Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0.
Following that initial victory, Álvarez participated in the post-game celebrations to present the Match MVP award to forward Julián Quiñones, who scored the tournament's opening goal in the eighth minute.
During the festivities, the undisputed super middleweight champion also shared his thoughts on which football player could last a round in the boxing ring.
"Está muy difícil, pero creo que Cristiano Ronaldo tiene esa fortaleza.
Hay otro que juega en la MLS, pero no me acuerdo de su nombre, así que nos quedamos con Cristiano," said Álvarez, sidelining Lionel Messi while recalling their past controversy from Qatar 2022.
Boxer's Recovery and Upcoming Fight
The boxer is currently undergoing rehabilitation following elbow surgery after his September 2025 defeat against Terence Crawford, which delayed his return to training and kept him out of action last May.
Álvarez holds a career record of 63 victories, two draws, and three losses across 68 professional fights.
The Guadalajara native is scheduled to return to the ring in September 2026 to face Christian Mbilli in Riad, Saudi Arabia.
His last appearance at the Guadalajara Stadium occurred on May 6, 2023, when he defeated John Ryder in front of a record-breaking crowd of 60,257 spectators.
The match between Mexico and South Korea marks the first time the Mexican national team will play a World Cup game in the capital of Jalisco, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 hours local time.
According to historical records, Mexico has won both of its previous World Cup encounters against South Korea, securing a 3-1 victory in France 1998 and a 2-1 win in Russia 2018.
