Mexico roster vs USMNT: selected players, absences and injuries

Mexico is aiming to qualify for its eighth straight FIFA World Cup and 17th overall. El Tri has only missed the tournament on three occasions, having failed to qualify in 1974 and 1982 and being banned from the 1990 competition after fielding overage players in the 1988 Concacaf U-20 Championship.

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Mexico team news

Mexico captain Andrés Guardado will miss Thursday's World Cup qualifier against the USA. Forward Rogelio Funes Mori and defender Julio César Domínguez are also out through injury. Guardado picked up a thigh playing for La Liga side Real Betis against Atlético Madrid on March 6.

Goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, defenders Jesús Alberto Angulo, Héctor Moreno, Israel Reyes and Jorge Sánchez, midfielder Edson Álvarez and forwards Eduardo Aguirre and Santiago Giménez were called into the 29-man roster announced last week by coach Tata Martino.

USA holds recent advantage over Mexico

The USA holds a 17-9-6 advantage against Mexico since 2000, but the USMNT is 0-3-3 in recent road World Cup qualifiers vs. El Tri.

Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca offers a strong home advantage, situated 7,200 feet above sea level and packed to the rafters with a buoyant crowd. El Tri earned seven points during its winter World Cup qualifying window.

This is the fourth meeting in official Concacaf competition between Mexico and the USMNT since the start of 2021, following the USA’s 3-2 win in last June’s Nations League Final and the 1-0 victory in July’s Gold Cup Final.

Mexico roster by position (club; caps/goals)

Goalkeepers (4): Carolos Acevedo (Santos Laguna; 1/0), Rodolfo Cota (Leon; 6/0), Guillermo Ochoa (America; 125/0), Alfredo Talavera (UNAM Pumas; 38/0)

Defenders (11): Erick Aguirre (Monterrey; 10/0), Jesus Alberto Angulo (UANL Tigres; 6/0), Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy/USA; 2/0), Nestor Araujo (Celta Vigo/ESP; 57/3), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk/BEL; 13/0), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey; 70/0), Cesar Montes (Monterrey; 21/1), Hector Moreno (Monterrey; 121/5), Israel Reyes (Puebla; 1/0), Jorge Sanchez (America; 20/1), Johan Vazquez (Genoa/ITA; 4/0)

Midfielders (8): Roberto Alvarado (Chivas Guadalajara; 26/4), Edson Alvarez (Ajax/NED; 53/2), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul; 28/8), Erick Gutierrez (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 28/1), Hector Herrera (Atletico Madrid/ESP; 96/10), Diego Lainez (Real Betis/ESP; 16/3), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul; 29/0), Luis Romo (Monterrey; 19/0)

Forwards (6): Jesus Corona (Sevilla/ESP; 66/10), Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton/ENG; 92/29), Santiago Gimenez (Cruz Azul; 2/1), Hirving Lozano (Napoli/ITA; 55/15), Henry Martin (America; 18/5), Alexis Vega (Chivas Guadalajara; 15/3)