Mexico fail to lure Vela out of retirement for 2022 World Cup
According to TUDN, the Mexican Soccer Federation was rebuffed in its latest attempt to persuade the LAFC forward to return to the international set-up.
The Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) has tried several times to persuade Carlos Vela to return to the national-team fold. However, the Los Angeles FC forward has rebuffed every approach, the most recent of which came in the run-up to the World Cup.
FMF chief, Mexico coach hold talks with Vela
According to TUDN, FMF president Yon De Luisa and Mexico head coach Gerardo Martino spoke to Vela a few weeks ago in an unsuccessful, last-ditch attempt to lure the 33-year-old out of international retirement for Qatar 2022.
Competing at their eighth straight finals, Mexico have been drawn in Group C alongside Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia. They play their opening game against the Poles on 22 November.
Vela: I can’t play at World Cup if I didn’t help Mexico qualify
Per TUDN journalist Gibrán Araige, Vela’s refusal to return was in part motivated by the fact that he had not contributed to Mexico’s qualification campaign for the tournament.
Vela is currently preparing to captain LAFC in Saturday’s MLS Cup final against Philadelphia Union, after the Black and Gold beat Austin FC 3-0 to win the Western Conference final last weekend.
Capped over 70 times by Mexico
After making his Mexico debut in 2007, Vela won a total of 72 caps for El Tri, before announcing his retirement from international soccer in May 2019. He scored 19 times for his country, with his final goal coming in a group-stage clash against South Korea at the 2018 World Cup.
His last appearance for Mexico was the team’s final group game in Russia, against Brazil.