David Ochoa gets first call-up for Mexico U21 national team
The goalkeeper from Real Salt Lake has decided to represent Mexico on the international front and could make his debut this week.
David Ochoa was born in the United States, but he has decided to represent the Mexico national team. The 20-year-old goalkeeper has been in talks with the manager of ‘El Tri’ Gerardo Martino, who invited him into the national team camp earlier this year.
A decision has been made by Ochoa
Ochoa played for the United States at youth level and made his debut with the U23 side during the 2020 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying campaign in March of this year. The Real Salt Lake goalkeeper started all three games during the tournament, but the United States failed to qualify for Tokyo 2020.
After that the coach of Mexico, Gerardo Martino, invited him to train during the international break over the summer and talked to him about making the switch. Since then, Ochoa made up his mind and submitted the paperwork to FIFA. The one-time switch was approved last week and he has been called up to the Mexico U21 team for the international fixtures this month.
The U21 Mexican national team have travelled to Europe to face Romania on 9 October and two days later they face Sweden. The games will be played at the Marbella Football Centre in Spain and Ochoa will make his debut with Mexico in those games.
Ochoa makes professional debut
The 20-year-old made his professional debut with Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake on 8 November 2020 against Sporting Kansas City. This season he has made 17 appearances, with four clean sheets and he has made 51 saves. RSL is in fifth place in the Western Conference and they are fighting for their ticket to the playoffs.