COPA AMÉRICA
2024 Copa América: Mexico complete roster | Selected players and omissions
Jaime Lozano’s side head into the tournament as one of the favored teams and hoping to build on their success of last year’s Gold Cup, although with question marks over their recent form.
Mexico head into their long-awaited return to the Copa América after eight years of absence. Jaime Lozano’s side kick off their campaign against Jamaica at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Saturday. Ranked 14th ahead of the tournament, El Tri are among the top seeds and also one of the fancied teams in this 2024 edition - even if they aren’t among the big favorites.
Injuries, disruption, two changes of coach...
There have been some reservations about Mexico for some time - an underwhelming World Cup in Qatar cost coach Tata Martino his job. His team didn’t even manage to get past the group stage, scoring just two goals in three games. Diego Cocca’s appointment in February 2023 didn’t bring much joy either. He was sacked just a few months into the job after the team’s exit from the Nations League finals.
Under Jimmy Lozano, things started to look up. Mexico lifted the Gold Cup for the first time in history, defeating Panama by a solitary goal in the final. Leading up to this edition of the Copa América, more doubts have been raised - especially due to the coach’s decision to leave out highly experienced players such as Chucky Lozano and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from his squad.
Mexico squad for 2024 Copa América
Goalkeepers: Ángel Malagón (América), José Raúl Rangel (Chivas), Julio González (Pumas).
Defenders: Israel Reyes (América), Jorge Sánchez (Porto), Brian García (Toluca), César Montes (Almería), Johan Vásquez (Genoa), Jesús Orozco (Chivas), Gerardo Arteaga (Rayados), Bryan González (Pachuca).
Midfielders: Edson Álvarez (West Ham), Luis Romo (Rayados), Erick Sánchez (Pachuca), Orbelín Pineda (AEK), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul).
Forwards: Marcelo Flores (Tigres), César Huerta (Pumas), Julián Quiñones (América), Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Diego Lainez (Tigres).
Only 13 members of the Mexico squad that lifted the Gold Cup last summer have travelled to the United States for this year’s Copa América. Lozano has drafted younger players such as Toluca’s Brian García, Pachuca’s Bryan González and Pumas forward César Huerta. Carlos Acevedo is the most experienced of the three goalkeepers who have made the trip with six caps, although it looks like Pumas’ keeper Julio González will start between the sticks. Injury forced Luis Ángel Malagón to miss out this time.
Mexico lost both of their warm-up games, crashing 0-4 to Uruguay and 2-3 to Brazil - two of the big favorites. All of that together doesn’t inspire much confidence for a team whose best performance in this competition was finishing as runner-up almost a quarter of a century ago.
After facing Jamaica, Mexico will meet Venezuela on 26 June then close the group stage four days later against Ecuador. Those opening matches will determine whether Lozano made the right call to trust González as his starting No.1.