The former Monterrey coach has two qualifiers left to reverse his country's fortunes as they bid to reach the 2014 finals in Brazil.

Back-to-back defeats to Honduras and the United States have left Mexico in fifth place in the six-team CONCACAF regional group, from which only the top three qualify with the fourth-placed team advancing to a play-off against New Zealand.

Failing to make it to next year's tournament would be traumatic for a football-mad nation that has watched "El Tri" play in 14 of the 19 previous World Cups and had high hopes for a team packed with talent such as Manchester United's Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.

"We are in an extremely difficult and complex situation and we have decided to ask Victor Manuel Vucetich to join the national squad," federation president Justino Compean told a news conference.

Vucetich, who earned his nickname after winning 13 titles with Mexican clubs, said the national team had "no room for errors" as they head toward critical games against Panama at home on October 11 and in Costa Rica four days later.

The federation fired Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre on Saturday, hours after an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Honduras in the legendary Azteca stadium.

His replacement, Luis Fernando Tena, who managed the team that won the 2012 London Olympics gold medal, was at the helm for just one game, the 2-0 loss to the United States in Ohio on Tuesday.

Mexico now hope to claw their way up the group, from which the United States and Costa Rica have already qualified for the World Cup. At the moment, the third spot belongs to Honduras, who have 11 points.

Panama are fourth with eight points, level with Mexico but ahead thanks to a better goal difference.

Vucetich was sacked by Monterrey in August after four fruitful years in which they won two Mexican league titles, three straight CONCACAF Champions League trophies and third place at the Club World Cup last year.

The 58-year-old manager had been favourite to get the job after the 2010 World Cup but declined for personal reasons.

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