Mexico to call up Luis Malagón for USMNT friendly
The América goalkeeper could make his full international debut in next week’s friendly against the United States in Arizona.
Mexico will play a friendly match against the United States on Wednesday 19 April at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. As the game will take place outside of the official FIFA international match calendar, only players from local leagues will be called up to take part. According to Diario Récord, América goalkeeper Luis Malagón is expected to be included in Diego Cocca’s squad and could make his senior debut against the USMNT.
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In addition to Malagón, another of the goalkeepers that is set to be called up by Diego Cocca is Santos Laguna’s Carlos Acevedo. Both of the Liga MX-based keepers have the full confidence of the coach. Acevedo is the more experienced of the two, having made five appearances with senior side while Malagón has represented Mexico at Under-21 and Under-23 level but has never played for the first team although he was on the bench for friendly games against Panama in July 2021, Chile later the same year and more recently, against Paraguay last year. Local media reports assure that the Mexico squad for the USMNT friendly will have a lower average age to the one seen in the recent CONCACAF Nations League as younger players will be called.
Malagón’s numbers this season
Luis Malagón was on the bench for the first 10 games of the Clausura 2023, but has been a starter for América since the Week 11 win over Tigres. Since then, the Águilas have recorded three victories (Tigres, Chivas and Rayados) and one draw (León) with Malagon keeping one sheet in four games. In the Week 14 meeting with Monterrey, he saved a penalty from Joao Rojas in the dying minutes of the match to give his team a vital 2-1 win.