Hormiga González Secures World Cup Roster Spot and Panini Album Inclusion

Armando "Hormiga" González has earned confirmation as a member of Mexico's World Cup delegation, with card manufacturer Panini announcing he will be included in an official sticker album update set. The 23-year-old Chivas forward's inclusion marks a significant validation of his recent performances in Mexico's domestic league, though his initial omission from Panini's base album had surprised many supporters.

Path to the Roster

González earned his selection through his displays across Mexico's two most recent Liga MX tournament cycles. While established striker Raúl Jiménez anchors the attacking lineup as the primary center forward, the young Chivas player will pursue significant playing time to establish himself internationally and potentially secure a transfer to European competition.

The announcement caught observers off guard given that German Berterame had been previously considered as an alternative option by manager Javier Aguirre. The late-stage nature of González's confirmation explains why Panini initially excluded him from the standard album release.

Panini Album Update Details

Panini, which holds the official FIFA album manufacturing license through the 2030 World Cup, confirmed González's inclusion in Mexico's supplementary sticker collection. The company utilized a playful announcement referencing anime culture, describing the moment as "The Goal Otaku completes his summoning technique" as González "unlocks his ninja path" with the national team.

The update set will also feature Brazilian forward Neymar, who similarly joined his national team roster in the final selection window under coach Carlo Ancelotti. No exact release date for the update packs has been announced. Mexican midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo, a Spanish-born naturalized player who debuted with the national team in March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium, will also appear in the Mexico update collection.