Who is the only MLS player in the Mexico national team roster?
Several members in Tata Martino’s most recent squad lists play for clubs outside of Mexico and two of them are based in the United States.
Tata Martino announced a 31-man squad for the two MexTour 2022 sendoff matches, both against South American opposition - friendlies that will serve as a warm up for the Qatar World Cup. Mexico take on Peru at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday 24 September then head to Santa Clara to face Colombia at Levi’s Stadium on Tuesday 27 September.
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Two of the big names in the list are forwards Hirving Lozano and Raúl Jiménez - both based at European clubs - Lozano plays for Napoli in Serie A and Jiménez for Premier League side Wolves. They are not the only members of Martino’s most recent squad to be plying their trade outside of Mexico. A total of 11 players in the 31-man list play abroad in foreign leagues - all but one of them, in Europe.
Héctor Herrera is the only member of the Mexico squad who is based in MLS. The 32-year-old midfielder joined Houston Dynamo from Atlético Madrid as a designated player in March. Herrera, who made his senior international debut in 2012, reached a career milestone in June with his 100th cap in the 0-0 friendly draw against Ecuador. During his career, the Mexico captain has racked up 10 goals and 15 assists for his country, and was part of the team that won the Gold Cup in 2015 and an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games.
He is the only MLS player in the Mexico squad who is expected to be at the World Cup. Martino however did include another - 21-year-old goalkeeper David Ochoa in his squad for a CONCACAF Nations League game against Jamaica. Ochoa was born in California to Mexican parents and is eligible to play for either the USMNT or Mexico. He has played for the United States at youth level but has not been capped at full international level. He is on the books with MLS outfit DC United.
At least five players will be dropped from Martino’s preliminary, 31-man list when the coach submits his final World Cup squad list to FIFA on or before 18 November.
Mexico squad
Goalkeepers
Guillermo Ochoa (Club América), Alfredo Talavera FC (FC Juárez), Rodolfo Cota (Club León).
Defenders
Jorge Sánchez (Ajax), Edson Álvarez (Ajax), Néstor Araujo (Club América), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Gerardo Arteaga (KRC Genk), Kevin Álvarez (Pachuca), Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey), César Montes (Monterrey), Héctor Moreno (Monterrey), Jesús Angulo (Tigres), Johan Vázquez (US Cremonese).
Midfielders
Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Alexis Vega (Chivas de Guadalajara), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas de Guadalajara), Fernando Beltrán (Chivas de Guadalajara), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo), Erick Gutiérrez (PSV Eindhoven), Luis Chávez (Pachuca), Erick Sánchez (Pachuca), Luis Romo (Monterrey), Andrés Guardado (Betis).
Forwards
Henry Martín (Club América), Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord), Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey), Raúl Jiménez (Wolves).