Héctor Herrera refuses to play in another World Cup with Mexico

Héctor Herrera 's name was once a staple in the Mexico National Team lineup, until his form dipped so dramatically that he ended up on the Toluca bench. Now, to the surprise of many, the experienced midfielder is returning to the organization that brought him back to the continent after his European stint-where it seems there's some unfinished business.

"HH" has been officially unveiled as the newest reinforcement for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer (MLS) . Despite the excitement surrounding his return, Herrera has made it crystal clear where he stands on playing in another World Cup, ruling out any chance of featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup .

Héctor Herrera's stance on the 2026 World Cup

The veteran midfielder, who shined in Europe with clubs like FC Porto and Atlético Madrid , has no thoughts of another World Cup-it's not even on his radar-and he has very clear reasons why.

"I'm not thinking about reaching another World Cup. Right now, I have three priorities in my life: my personal ones are here in Houston (my kids), and on the sporting side, I'm at the team where I want to be and I feel at home," Herrera explained during his official presentation press conference with the Texas club.

The 35-year-old midfielder represented Mexico national football team at the last three World Cups (2014, 2018, and 2022), but he hasn't played a single minute for El Tri since September 10, 2023-during his second season of his first Houston stint. He also hasn't been called up by head coach Javier Aguirre since the 2026 World Cup qualification process began in July 2024.

"What made me come back was that my kids are happy here. Also, the story between the club and me hadn't ended the way I wanted-it left an impression of a person I'm not. That motivated me to return and close the chapter properly. I want to stay for years to win titles," Herrera added.

After a year away, Herrera returns as a bicampeón de la Liga MX with Toluca (Clausura and Apertura 2025), aiming to help transform Houston Dynamo into a winning force in MLS as well-bringing with him a proven championship mentality.

"This is the best moment in my career to come back. I'm returning with a winning mindset after a year where I won everything with Toluca. I want to bring that mentality here, spread it to the players, and fight for the same objective together."

Herrera signed a contract through the 2026 MLS season , with a club option through June 2027, marking his second stint with Houston Dynamo after a memorable first run from 2022 to 2024, where he served as captain and played a key role in stabilizing the club. He leaves Toluca as a modern legend after contributing to their historic back-to-back Liga MX titles , even in a more rotational role during the 2025 season (34 appearances, 1 goal, 2 assists).