Álvaro Fidalgo is now officially eligible to represent Mexico after FIFA approved his change of federation in February 2026, ending the wait that followed his five-year residency in the country. The Spain-born midfielder can now be called on by the Selección Mexicana after building his case through club football in Liga MX.
That is why his name is back in circulation now. Javier Aguirre has already called him up for Mexico’s friendlies against Portugal and Belgium, and Fidalgo was also included in Mexico’s final list for the 2026 World Cup, putting him on the edge of his first official step with the national team.
Fidalgo’s path to this point has been long enough to give the decision real weight. He joined América in 2021 and spent five years living in Mexico, leaving behind a record that made him one of the club’s most productive foreign midfielders: 228 matches, 22 goals and 30 assists. He returned to Spanish football in 2026 with Real Betis and helped the club qualify for the Champions League by the end of the season.
Before Mexico became an option, he had already gone through Spain’s youth national teams and was formed at Oviedo before also playing for Real Madrid. That background is part of what makes his switch notable. He is not arriving from the margins of the game; he comes with years in both Spanish and Mexican football, and with a profile that national team coaches can measure against immediately.
Fidalgo has been open about how personal the choice feels. He says he feels at home in Mexico and in Spain, and that the decision to represent Mexico was not easy, even if it may surprise some people. He has said he is proud to be from Asturias and Spain, but also that Mexico gave him a very special affection that he wants to repay with something meaningful on the pitch.
He also said his first contact with Mexico’s setup left a strong impression. Fidalgo described being surprised by the way the team works, the playing philosophy, and the physical and tactical demands, and he praised the discipline Aguirre, Rafa and the rest of the staff are trying to build. That matters because his eligibility is not just a paperwork update; it has already turned him into part of Mexico’s short-term plans.
What remains unknown is the first competitive match that will carry his name on Mexico’s roster. The approval has opened the door, the call-ups have pushed him toward the team, and the World Cup list has raised the stakes. The only question left is whether Fidalgo’s debut comes in a friendly or on the biggest stage of all.
