Fresh off helping Mexico to the CONCACAF U-17 Championship title last month, 16-year-old Californian Efraín Álvarez has registered his first goals for the LA Galaxy, notching a brace in the club’s 3-0 U.S. Open Cup victory over Orange County FC on Wednesday night.
"My obligation as Mexico head coach is to make the national team be respected."
Tata Martino's words echoed through the press conference room right before his first match against Chile. Mexico would go on to win that thrilling game 3-1, and he's since gone on to defeat Paraguay 4-2. But this summer, his team will be pushed to the limit.
In what can only be classified as a fitting finale in the storybook of U.S. soccer, the USWNT defeated Mexico 3-0 in the nation’s final match of the Send-Off Series. Tobin Heath, Mal Pugh and Christen Press were on the scoresheet for the U.S., putting the finishing touches on a series of friendly matches in which the defending world champions outscored three opponents by a total score of 11-0.
Mexican soccer fans are known for their incredible passion for the sport and also their obsession for a fifth game at the World Cup. It goes without saying that fans have longed for a player to come and spearhead El Tri into a new era of greatness, a player that draws amazement and inspires those around him be greats.
Tata Martino announced a 29-man, preliminary Mexico Gold Cup roster on Tuesday and a few big names were left off the squad.
Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Héctor Herrera and Jesus Corona were all omitted from Martino’s team ahead of friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador to warm up for the Gold Cup. The roster will be trimmed to 23 before the start of the Gold Cup on June 15 against Cuba.
Incondicionales, it's roster reveal time!!
Mexico's newest sensation Chucky Lozano has had a tremendous season in the Dutch League. The man behind the legendary story of a small earthquake in Mexico City erupting from his giant-killing goal against Germany in the 2018 World Cup might not get the chance to repeat his stellar performance from last summer this time around.
Raúl Jiménez and WWE's Sin Cara have had a budding friendship this season.
Jiménez, who has been on fire for the Wolves, has been attracting attention from all over the world for his glittering performances for Wolverhampton. He first showed glimpses of his bromance with Sin Cara back during a FA Cup semifinal match where, after he put the Wolves up by two goals, he ran behind Watford's goal to grab something from underneath the goal post.
Watch a couple minutes of Concacaf U-17 Championship highlights and one thing is clear: There is a lot of talent in the youth ranks at some of North America and Central America.
This isn’t that surprising to anyone who follows MLS these days. Two of the biggest stars in the field are Mexico’s Efrain Alvarez and the United States’ Gianluca Busio, two 16-year-olds who are already making waves in MLS.
After advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2017 event, Mexico looks to advance even further at this summer’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland with a group of 21 players that’ve excelled at the youth level for El Tri.
A big talking point, much to the consternation of coach Diego Ramirez, is the fact that Monterrey has barred Jonathan Gonzalez from joining the side with the Liga MX playoffs looming.
The last time the USMNT played a meaningful match, it was that horrific loss to Trinidad and Tobago in October of 2017, keeping the Americans out of the 2018 World Cup. After the 2019 Gold Cup draw, the U.S. will be seeing the Soca Warriors once again in their next competitive match.
The U.S. was drawn against Trinidad and Tobago, Panama and Guyana in Group D of the 2019 Gold Cup draw on Wednesday, setting the stage for Concacaf’s biennial championship.