Copa America 2024: Meet Mexico’s 31-player preliminary squad competing for a final roster spot

Under the leadership of head coach Jaime Lozano, the Mexico national football team is not only undergoing a generational change, but is also preparing intensively for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. -United, while preparing to participate in the Copa America tournament this summer.

Lozano made a bold decision to exclude some key players from the preliminary 31-man roster ahead of the Copa America. Among those excluded are veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Raúl Jiménez and Henry Martin. Lozano said the strategic decision was part of the team’s evolution and preparation for upcoming competitions, but made it clear he had not ruled veteran players out of the 2026 World Cup.

Lozano also said that this preparation represents a golden opportunity for a group of young players to develop and showcase their skills, potentially shaping the future of Mexican football.

Here are the potential new faces you’ll see at the 2024 Copa America.

CONMEBOL Copa America 2024: Group stage schedule and where to buy tickets

Copa America 2024: preliminary list of 31 Mexican players

Head coach Jamie Lozano has released a preliminary 31-man roster, which will be whittled down to 23 players ahead of the Copa America opener against Jamaica.

Goalkeepers:

• Angel Malagon: A 27-year-old goalkeeper for Liga MX side Club América, Malagon received his first call-up to the Mexico national football team in 2021 and made his debut in a friendly match against Guatemala in June 2023.

• Raul Rangel: 24-year-old goalkeeper for Liga MX team Deportivo Guadalajara, played six matches in the 2023/24 season.

• Julio Gonzalez: 33-year-old goalkeeper for Liga MX team UNAM. Gonzalez was first called up to the Mexico national football team in October 2023 and played in friendlies against Ghana and Germany.

Defenders:

• Israel Reyes: 23-year-old central defender of Liga MX team Club América, and was called up to the Mexico national football team in December 2021 in a friendly match against Chile.

• Jorge Sanchez: 26-year-old right back for Primeria Liga club Porto and currently on loan from Dutch professional football club Ajax. Sánchez was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2019 against Paraguay. Sánchez is part of the 26-man roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

• Brian Garcia: 26-year-old right back of Liga MX team Toluca and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2023 in a friendly match against Colombia.

• César Montès: The 27-year-old central defender from the Spanish La Liga was called up for the first time to the Mexico national football team for the 2017 Gold Cup against Jamaica. Montes was also included in the 26-man roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

• Victor Guzman: 22-year-old central defender for Liga MX team Monterrey and was called up to the Mexico national football team for the first time in 2021.

• Alexis Pena: 28-year-old central defender of Liga MX team Necaxa and was first called up by the Mexico national football team in 2023 for a friendly match against Colombia.

• John Vasquez: 25-year-old central defender for Serie A club Genoa and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2019. Vásquez was named for the 2022 FIFA World Cup but did not played no minutes.

• Jesus Orozco: 22-year-old central defender for Liga MX team Deportivo Guadalajara and was called up to the Mexico national football team for the first time in 2023 against Colombia.

• Gerard Arteaga: 25-year-old left back for Liga MX team Monterrey and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2018 and was part of the 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup FIFA 2022, but did not play any minutes in the tournament.

• Bryan Gonzalez: 21-year-old left back of Liga MX team Pachuca and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2023 against Colombia.

Midfielder :

• Edson Alvarez: 26-year-old defensive midfielder for English Premier League club West Ham United. Álvarez has been a very active player in the Mexico national football team since 2017 and was part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad.

• Luis Romo: 28-year-old defensive midfielder for Liga MX team Monterrey and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2019. Romo was part of the team that won bronze at the Olympics 2020 Summer Festival in Tokyo and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Mug.

• Jordan Carrillo: 22-year-old attacking midfielder for Liga MX team Santos Laguna and was called up for the first time by the Mexico national football team in 2022 for a friendly match against Guatemala.

• Erick Sanchez: 24-year-old midfielder of Liga MX team Pachuca and was first called up by the Mexico national football team in 2021 for a match against Guatemala.

• Orbelin Pineda: 28-year-old midfielder for Greek Super League team AEK Athens and active player for the Mexico national football team since his call-up in 2015.

• Roberto Alvarado: 25-year-old winger for Liga MX team Deportivo Guadalajara and active player for the Mexico national football team since his call-up in 2018.

• Luis Chavez: 28-year-old midfielder for Russian Premier League team Dynamo Moscow and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2022 for a friendly match against Guatemala. Chávez was one of 23 players selected for the FIFA World Cup.

• Andrés Montaño: 22-year-old midfielder for Liga MX team Mazatlán FC. This will be Montaño’s first call-up for an international match with the Mexico national football team.

• Fernando Beltran: 26-year-old midfielder for Liga MX team Deportivo Guadalajara. This will be Beltrán’s first call-up for an international match with the Mexico national football team.

• Carlos Rodriguez: 27-year-old midfielder for Liga MX team Cruz Azul and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2019.

Advantages:

• Marcelo Flores: 20-year-old attacking midfielder for Liga MX team Tigres UANL and was eligible to play for Canada, England or Mexico and in 2022, committed to playing with Mexico internationally.

• Cesar Huerta: 23-year-old winger for Liga MX team UNAM and was first called up by the Mexico national football team in 2023 for friendlies against Australia and Uzbekistan.

• Julian Quiñones: 27-year-old striker for Liga MX Club América and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2023 after becoming a Mexican citizen.

• Santiago Gimenez: 23-year-old striker of Eredivisie team Feyenoord and although he was born in Argentina, decided to represent Mexico at international level. Giménez was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2020 and made his debut for Mexico in 2021 in a friendly match against Ecuador.

• Alexis Vega: 26-year-old striker for Liga MX team Toluca and was first called up to the Mexico national football team in 2019.

• Uriel Antuna: 26-year-old striker for Liga MX team Cruz Azul and active player for the Mexico national football team since being called up in 2017 for friendlies against Belgium and Poland.

• Guillermo Martinez Ayala: 29-year-old striker of Liga MX team UNAM and was first called up by the Mexico national football team in 2023 for a friendly match against Colombia.

• Diego Laínez: 23-year-old striker for Liga MX team Tigres UANL and active player for the Mexico national football team since being called up in 2018 for friendlies against the United States and Uruguay.

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Copa America 2024: Mexico preliminary roster