Aguirre says Mexico must earn World Cup progress

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Mexico manager Javier Aguirre said Friday his team's status as a 2026 World Cup co-host would not make it any easier to reach the tournament's knockout stages.

Mexico will face South Africa in the curtain raiser at Azteca Stadium on June 11 in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg.

Friday's World Cup draw in Washington also pitted Aguirre's team in the same g