Diego Cocca names 34-player roster for CONCACAF Nations League matches
New Mexican national team head coach Diego Cocca named the 34-player roster for the two CONCACAF Nations League matches this month, leaving out veterans Hector Herrera and captain Andres Guardado for younger figures.
Mexico will close out the Nations League group stage by traveling to Flora Stadium to face Suriname on March 23, before hosting Jamaica on March 26 at the Azteca Stadium. El Tri currently sits in second place of Group B, with four points in two games after defeating Suriname 3-0 and tying 1-1 against Jamaica in 2022.
The first roster of 2023 includes a mix of experienced and new players, giving way for a new era under head coach Diego Cocca.
He opted to leave out six players that made the 2022 World Cup squad, resting Alfredo Talavera, Rodolfo Cota, Alexis Vega, Rogelio Funes Mori, Guardado and Herrera. Vega stands as the only player left out due to injury. But a strong core of 20 World Cup players remain, with Guillermo Ochoa, Edson Alvarez, Raul Jimenez and Hirving 'Chucky’ Lozano leading.
To compliment the veterans, Cocca called up Carlos Acevedo, Julian Araujo, Marcel Ruiz, Poncho Gonzalez and Gilberto Sepulveda. The head coach insisted the experimental 34-player roster served as just the first step of many before the 2026 World Cup.
"I've spoken with many players, including Chicharito. All Mexican players are options," said Cocca. "I don't know what will happen tomorrow, today we chose 34 and the commitment of this team is to see all of those that can represent Mexico."
Here’s the full roster…
Goalkeepers:
- Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)
- Guillermo Ochoa (Salernitana)
- Jose Antonio “Toño” Rodriguez (Club Tijuana)
Defenders:
- Israel Reyes (Club America)
- Hector Moreno (Monterrey)
- Nestor Araujo (Club America)
- Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey)
- Gilberto Sepulveda, (Chivas)
- Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca)
- Jesus Angulo (Tigres)
- Julian Araujo (Barcelona)
- Jorge Sanchez (Ajax)
- Cesar Montes (Espanyol)
- Johan Vasquez (Cremonese)
- Gerardo Arteaga (Genk)
Midfielders:
- Luis Romo (Monterrey)
- Arturo Gonzalez (Monterrey)
- Roberto Alvarado (Chivas)
- Fernando Beltran (Chivas)
- Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul)
- Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul)
- Marcel Ruiz (Toluca)
- Erick Sanchez (Pachuca)
- Luis Chavez, (Pachuca)
- Sebastian Cordova (Tigres)
- Edson Alvarez (Ajax)
- Erick Gutierrez (PSV)
Forwards:
- Diego Lainez (Tigres)
- Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (Napoli)
- Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens)
- Henry Martin, (Club America)
- Roberto de la Rosa (Pachuca)
- Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton)
- Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord)