Mexico at Wales
International Friendly
Saturday, March 27, 2021 | 3 p.m. CT
Cardiff City Stadium | Cardiff, Wales
Broadcast Schedule:
Spanish TV | Univision, TUDN
Streaming | ESPN+, Univision NOW, TUDN.com
Sporting Kansas City striker Alan Pulido has joined the Mexico Men’s National Team for a pair of upcoming friendly matches in Europe as El Tri prepares for a pivotal 2021 campaign highlighted by the Concacaf Nations League Finals and the Concacaf Gold Cup, and FIFA World Cup qualifying.
First on tap is a meeting with Wales at 3 p.m. CT Saturday in the Welsh capital of Cardiff. The contest will be televised live in Spanish on Univision and TUDN while also streaming in English on ESPN Plus.
Mexico MNT Match Schedule: March FIFA Window
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Time (CT)</strong> |
<strong>Location</strong> |
<strong>Watch</strong> |
Saturday, March 27 |
Wales |
3 p.m. |
Cardiff City Stadium;<br>
Cardiff, Wales |
Univision, TUDN, ESPN Plus |
Tuesday, March 30 |
Costa Rica |
3 p.m. |
<div>Stadion Wiener Neustadt;</div><div>Wiener Neustadt, Austria</div> |
TBA |
Pulido is part of a 26-player squad assembled by head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino and one of four MLS players on the roster alongside Inter Miami CF's Rodolfo Pizarro and LA Galaxy duo Efrain Alvarez and Jonathan dos Santos.
Following the friendly match against Costa Rica on March 30, 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. He 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.
Mexico will use this month's friendlies as valuable tune-ups ahead of the Concacaf Nations League semifinals and finals on June 3 and 6, the Concacaf Gold Cup from July 10-Aug. 1, and a lengthy FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign that will begin in September.
On the opposite sideline, Wales will host Mexico in a game sandwiched between two World Cup qualifiers in the UEFA region. Captained by Tottenham forward Gareth Bale, the Welsh opened World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 loss at Belgium on Wednesday and will use their El Tri test as a warmup run for Tuesday's qualifier against Czech Republic. Wales is also one of 24 nations that will compete at the highly anticipated UEFA Euro in June.
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)
