Mexico’s possible line-up for today’s international friendly vs USMNT

Mexico take on the United States in a friendly at State Farm Stadium on Wednesday, with kick-off in Glendale, Arizona scheduled for 10pm ET.

As the game doesn’t fall within an official FIFA international window, clubs were not obliged to release players, so Mexican head coach Diego Cocca has had to pick an almost entirely Liga MX-based squad.

Martín and Alvarado drop out of US friendly

Mexico will be without injured duo Henry Martín and Roberto Alvarado, who both suffered knocks on matchday 15 of the Clausura 2023 tournament this weekend. The pair have not travelled to the US for the clash against El Tri’s chief CONCACAF rivals - a team they face again in the Nations League semi-finals in June.

Mexico set to play with five at back in Arizona

Santos Laguna’s Carlos Acevedo is expected to start in goal for Mexico, behind a five-man backline - a defensive shape that Cocca employed to great effect during his time in charge of Liga MX club Atlas, winning back-to-back domestic championships. All the indications are that Barcelona B’s Julián Araújo - the only player in the squad who plies his trade in Europe - will feature in defence.

In attack, meanwhile, Roberto de la Rosa looks like being a surprise inclusion in Mexico’s starting line-up. The Pachuca striker will be tasked with leading the line for the visitors in the absence of first-choice centre-forward Martín.

Mexico’s possible line-up vs United States:

Goalkeeper: Carlos Acevedo

Defenders: Julián Araujo, Néstor Araújo, Israel Reyes, Victor Guzmán and Jesús Gallardo

Midfielders: Luis Chávez and Erick Sánchez

Forwards: Uriel Antuna, Roberto de la Rosa and Alexis Vega.