Mexico vs. Costa Rica
International Friendly
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 | 3 p.m. CT
Stadion Wiener Neustadt | Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Live Updates: @miseleccionmxEN on Twitter
Sporting Kansas City striker Alan Pulido will seek his 15th career senior cap on Tuesday when Mexico meets Concacaf rival Costa Rica in an international friendly at 3 p.m. CT Tuesday in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. In-game updates will be available via twitter at @miseleccionmxEN.
Pulido did not feature in Mexico's 1-0 friendly loss at Wales on Saturday but is in contention to feature this time around as head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino's men continue their preparations for a pivotal 2021 campaign highlighted by the Concacaf Nations League finals in June, the Concacaf Gold Cup in July and FIFA World Cup qualifying this fall.
Following Tuesday's contest, Pulido will adhere to mandated health and safety protocols in accordance with international travel before rejoining Sporting Kansas City for the start of the 2021 MLS regular season on April 17 at the New York Red Bulls.
Pulido has recorded five goals in 14 career caps for Mexico, most recently featuring in El Tri’s 2-2 friendly draw against Algeria last October in the Netherlands. The 30-year-old has notably represented his country at the 2011 Copa America in Argentina and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The striker made his senior international debut on Jan. 29, 2014, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 friendly win against South Korea in San Antonio, Texas. He added another goal in a 2-2 friendly draw with the United States over two months later and bagged his fifth Mexico goal in a friendly win over Iceland in February 2017.
Pulido tallied seven goals and five assists in 14 appearances across all competitions during his first MLS season with Sporting in 2020. His six goals and five assists in regular season play were both team highs, marking the first time since 2005 that a player has led Sporting in both goals and assists. Sporting went 8-2-1 and averaged 2.27 goals per match in the 11 regular season games that he started.
Last November, Pulido was one of three finalists for 2020 MLS Newcomer of the Year and was selected as Sporting’s Offensive Player of the Year. His contributions helped Manager Peter Vermes’ side finish atop the Western Conference standings with a 12-6-3 record and 1.86 points per match, the highest clip in club history.
Mexico Squad
Goalkeepers (4): Guillermo Ochoa (America), Alfredo Talavera (Pumas), Jonathan Orozco (Tijuana), Hugo Gonzalez (Monterrey)
Defenders (9): Nestor Araujo (Celta de Vigo), Carlos Salcedo (Tigres), Hector Moreno (Al-Gharafa), Gerardo Arteaga (KRC Genk), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Jorge Sanchez (America), Luis Rodriguez (Tigres)
Midfielders (9): Hector Herrera (Atletico Madrid) Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Diego Lainez (Real Betis), Erick Gutierrez (PSV Eindhoven), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Efrain Alvarez (LA Galaxy), Orbelin Pineda (Cruz Azul), Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Rodolfo Pizarro (Inter Miami)
Forwards (4): Jesus Corona (Porto), Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Henry Martin (America), Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City)
