Hugo Ayala

In May 2018 he was named in Mexico’s preliminary 28-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and was ultimately included in the final 23-man roster revealed on 4 June. He would go on to appear in the opening group stage match against Germany, where Mexico won 1–0 and the round-of-16 loss against Brazil.

On 2010, he arrived to Tigres UANL and by 2011 he already was the starter centre-back along with Juninho, both key players for the Apertura 2011 championship. Ayala was named best defender of the Apertura 2011 season alongside teammate Jorge Torres Nilo. Ayala, a starter in Tigres since 2011, later would become champion with the team in the Apertura 2015, Apertura 2016 and Apertura 2017 seasons besides runner-up of the 2015 Copa Libertadores.

Hugo Ayala started his professional career with Atlas. He made his official debut in 2006 as a starter against C.D. Guadalajara. Although Atlas lost 3–1 he became an often used substitute ending the season. In the next season he starting showing great talent in defending and became a starter in Atlas's defensive line up, leading Atlas all the way to the quarter finals to face Club América, but lost to them in an aggregate score of (7–4). Throughout his career with Atlas he was mostly used as a substitute until the manager, Ricardo La Volpe, took his place as manager of Atlas. La Volpe then started having confidence in Ayala, and made Ayala a starter and captain for Atlas. Then after Tigres saw great interest in Ayala his new club was Tigres

Hugo Ayala Castro (born 31 March 1987) is a Mexican professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Tigres UANL and the Mexico national team.