Brian Gutiérrez becomes the latest MLS player to reach a rare Mexico milestone | OneFootball

The first match of the 2026 World Cup has ended. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0, with the goals of Raul Gimenez and Julian Quiñones.

In the preview, one could imagine a dominance by the Mexican team, but not that match. South Africa seemed lost in many stages of the match, giving Mexico an advantage on both sides.

Still, the MLS was involved in the World Cup opener because Brian Gutiérrez was in the starting lineup.

Brian Gutiérrez and an MLS record no one knew of

The Chicago Fire prospect was part of Mexico’s starting lineup in their World Cup debut. With this, Gutiérrez becomes the first MLS Homegrown player to start the opening match of a FIFA World Cup game for Mexico since Carlos Salcedo in 2018.

The 22-year-old played 66 minutes without scoring or assisting on either of the two goals. However, the Chivas of Guadalajara player was a key piece in Javier Aguirre’s match scheme.

Connecting both the midfield and the attacks, Gutierrez didn’t perform as a normal offensive midfielder. Frequently, Gutiérrez tracked back to support the defense, and whenever the broadcast captured a player hustling or defending, it was often the Fire prospect.

Next to Erik Lira, both players organized the defensive and offensive parts of Mexico; nothing was happening if it wasn’t through them first.

Gutiérrez finished the game with a yellow card. While it may seem inconsequential now, watching him play reveals his physicality and the need for caution.

Because of his physical and aggressive style of play and the fact that he often operates on the edge, the Chicago Fire prospect must be mindful of yellow-card accumulation.

He has already proven to be a key piece in the manager's system, making his availability crucial to the team.

Even if it’s not a league’s official match, the MLS is everywhere, giving a clear message to the rest of the world about the league.