Julián Quiñones eligible to play for Mexico: when and against whom could he make his debut?
The Águilas star’s naturalization has been signed, sealed and delivered. He could be called up by Mexico by the end of the year.
Julián Quiñones now has confirmation that endorses him as a Mexican. His naturalization process is now complete which means that he is eligible to play for Mexico - but when could it happen? Jaime Lozano’s have two games lined up this month, against Ghana and Germany, but Quiñones was not included in the squad as he hadn’t received the relevant paperwork. Following this month’s international break, Mexico will have three games in the next one, so the América striker could make his debut before the year is out.
Quiñones’ name has been linked to El Tri during the past few months - he is regarded as one of the best players in the Liga MX and his recent naturalization means that he can now choose to play for Mexico rather than the country of his birth, Colombia. As soon as a he opted for Mexican nationality, he immediately became a candidate to receive a call from Jaime Lozano.
Key month
Next month, Mexico have three games scheduled - two of them official and a friendly. During the November international break, Lozano’s team will play both legs of the CONCACAF Nations League quarter finals, against a rival who has yet to be decided. As the top ranked seeded team, Mexico will face the worst ranked group runner-up from this month’s qualifiers - from Group A, possible rivals include: Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Guatemala or Martinique; from Group B: Jamaica, Cuba, Honduras or Haiti.
If Quiñones isn’t called up for either of those games, there is still a chance he could make his debut in 2023. Mexico have a friendly pencilled in for 15 December in Los Angeles - curiously, against Colombia, Quiñones’ country of birth. Although that meeting is not yet confirmed.