Here are some interesting facts and figures about Mexico for Friday night’s World Cup qualifying encounter with the United States at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
This information was compiled by U.S. Soccer.
Mexico qualified for the final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying as the first-ranked team in the region, claiming one of five automatic berths in the Octagonal.
The majority of Mexico’s roster (19 players) compete domestically in Liga MX, with four players each coming from Club America, Cruz Azul and Monterrey. Cruz Azul won the spring 2021 league title, while America is currently at the top of the table.
Eight players ply their trade abroad in Spain (3), Italy (2), England, Netherlands and Portugal.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino has managed El Tri since January 2019 and has led Mexico to a 33-5-5 record in that period. He brings a wealth of experience in the international and club game, previously managing the Paraguay and Argentina national teams as well as Newell’s Old Boys and FC Barcelona.
Prior to taking the Mexico job, Martino led Atlanta United for two years, managing USMNT defender Miles Robinson as United won the 2018 MLS Cup.
Mexico has qualified for the last seven World Cups and 16 overall. El Tri has only missed the tournament three times: failing to qualify 1974 and 1982 and being banned from the 1990 competition after fielding overage players in the 1988 Concacaf U-20 Championship.
Mexico qualified for the World Cup in all six iterations of the Hexagonal, topping the table twice, in 1998 and 2018. Its worst Final Round of World Cup qualifying finish came in 2014, when two stoppage-time goals for the USA against Panama sent El Tri to the intercontinental playoffs.
Mexico roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Rodolfo Cota (Leon; 6/0) Guillermo Ochoa (Club America; 120/0), Alfredo Talavera (UNAM Pumas; 38/0)
DEFENDERS (10): Jesus Alberto Angulo (Atlas; 6/0), Nestor Araujo (Celta Vigo/ESP; 54/3), Julio Cesar Dominguez (Cruz Azul; 20/0), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey; 66/0), Hector Moreno (Monterrey; 119/5), Luis Rodriguez (UANL Tigres; 35/2), Osvaldo Rodriguez (Leon; 7/1), Jorge Sanchez (Club America; 18/1), Gilberto Sepulveda (Chivas; 5/0), Johan Vasquez (Genoa/ITA; 2/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Roberto Alvarado (Cruz Azul; 24/4), Edson Alvarez (Ajax/NED; 50/2), Jesus Ricardo Angulo (Chivas; 3/1), Sebastian Cordova (Club America; 10/3), Andres Guardado (Real Betis/ESP; 170/28), Hector Herrera (Atletico Madrid/ESP; 91/9), Orbelin Pineda (Cruz Azul; 42/6), Carlos Rodriguez (Monterrey; 25/0), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul; 16/0)
FORWARDS (5): Jesus Corona (Porto/POR; 61/10), Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey; 12/5), Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton/ENG; 89/28), Hirving Lozano (Napoli/ITA; 51/15), Henry Martin (Club America; 16/4)
