Mexico’s national men’s soccer team announced its 31-man provisional World Cup roster Wednesday, including injured striker Raul Jimenez.
- El Tri, led by manager Tata Martino, is set to play a pair of friendlies against Iraq on Nov. 9 and Sweden on Nov. 16 in Girona, Spain.
- The deadline for participating national teams to submit their final 26-man rosters is on Nov. 14, so five players from the 31-man list will be sent home before the match against Sweden.
- The team will begin World Cup play in Group C against Poland on Nov. 22.
- Jesus Corona will be a last-minute decision on roster deadline day.
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World Cup provisional squads explained
Backstory
The deadline for participating national teams to submit their final 26-man rosters is on Nov. 14, meaning that five players from this 31-man list will be sent home before the match against Sweden. Beyond the inclusion of Sevilla’s Jesus Manuel Corona, there were no surprises. Corona is recovering from a fractured left tibia that he suffered in mid-August.
Martino has said publicly that he’ll wait until roster deadline day to decide whether or not Corona will be in Qatar. Wolverhampton striker Raul Jimenez is in a similar situation. The 31-year-old has not played a competitive match since injuring his groin during a pre-match warmup at Wolves’ Premier League match versus Southampton on Sept. 3.
Key inclusions and omissions
Both Corona and Jimenez have been important players during Martino’s tenure. Of the two, Jimenez has a better chance of making the World Cup roster, but he won’t be fully fit, which would make his selection a major gamble by Martino. This preliminary list also confirms the definitive omissions of the LA Galaxy’s Javier Hernandez and LAFC’s Carlos Vela.
Hernandez is Mexico’s all-time leading scorer, while Vela is widely regarded as one of the country’s premier talents. Hernandez was initially part of Martino’s Mexico project but he has not been called up since 2019. Martino has instead opted for Argentine-born Rogelio Funes Mori instead and opened the door for 21-year-old Santiago Gimenez to earn a permanent place on the national team. Vela has in turn said publicly that his international career is over.
What they are saying
Jaime Ordiales, Mexico national team sporting director: “We are positive that every one of the players that have been chosen by Gerardo Martino and his staff to defend our national team’s colors will give everything and be committed to playing in the best possible World Cup for Mexico.”
Yon De Luisa, Mexico federation president: “A meticulous planning process that focused on the team’s preparation has taken place. It was well prepared and well executed. We have an extensive group of players that have worked together since the end of World Cup qualifying and throughout May, June and during our FIFA friendlies in August, September and up until now in October.”
“We’re ready to make history in Qatar.”
Mexico MNT 2022 World Cup provisional roster
Goalkeepers (player – club)
- Guillermo Ochoa – Club America
- Alfredo Talavera – FC Juarez
- Rodolfo Cota – Leon
Defenders
- Jorge Sanchez – Ajax
- Nestor Araujo – Club America
- Hector Moreno – CF Monterrey
- Cesar Montes – CF Monterrey
- Johan Vasquez – Cremonese
- Gerardo Arteaga – Genk
- Kevin Alvarez – Pachuca
- Jesus Gallardo – CF Monterrey
- Jesus Angulo – Tigres
Midfielders
- Andres Guardado – Real Betis
- Edson Alvarez – Ajax
- Roberto Alvarado – Chivas de Guadalajara
- Hector Herrera – Houston Dynamo
- Carlos Rodriguez – Cruz Azul
- Erick Gutierrez – PSV Eindhoven
- Luis Chavez – Pachuca
- Diego Lainez – SC Braga
- Erick Sanchez – Pachuca
- Orbelin Pineda – AEK Athens
- Luis Romo – Cruz Azul
- Uriel Antuna – Cruz Azul
Forwards
- Raul Jimenez – Wolverhampton
- Henry Martin – Club America
- Santiago Gimenez – Feyenoord
- Rogelio Funes Mori – CF Monterrey
- Hirving Lozano – Napoli
- Alexis Vega – Chivas de Guadalajara
- *Jesus Corona – Sevilla
*Last-minute decision on roster deadline day
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(Photo: Joe Camporeale / USA Today)
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News Summary:
- Mexico’s provisional World Cup 2022 roster features Raul Jimenez; Corona a last-minute decision
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