Mexican national team head coach Diego Cocca named the 23-player roster for the upcoming friendly against the US men’s national team on April 19 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with Henry Martin and Julian Araujo headlining the squad.

The roster leans heavily on Liga MX figures, with 22 of the 23 coming from the Mexican league. Araujo stands as the only player joining El Tri from abroad, making the trip from FC Barcelona after joining the Spanish team in January in a dramatic last-minute transfer.

The squad sees the return of nine World Cup players: Nestor Araujo, Jesus Gallardo, Kevin Alvarez, Carlos Rodriguez, Luis Chavez, Martin, Roberto Alvarado, Alexis Vega and Martin.

Vega is set to feature for the first time under new manager Diego Cocca, after failing to make recent call ups due to injury. The Chivas de Guadalajara player was previously sidelined for eight weeks following a knee surgery for an injury sustained during the match vs. Atletico San Luis on January 13. 

Though the squad includes its fair share of veterans and reliable figures, Cocca also called up seven players that could possibly make their senior national team debut: Roberto de la Rose, Jose Antonio Rodgriguez, Ozziel Herrera, Aldo Rocha, Victor Guzman, Omar Campos and Angel Malagon. 

The inclusion of young Liga MX figures enables the Mexican national team to begin a generational shift, and widen its scope for the two Concacaf tournaments coming up this summer.

Here’s the full roster:

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has become the latest player to back Carlo Ancelotti to take the vacant Brazil job.

The Selecao are on the hunt for a new manager after parting ways with Tite at the end of a disappointing 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in which they fell to Croatia in the quarter-finals.

There has been much speculation that Brazil could appoint a foreign manager for the first time in their history, with big names such as Jose Mourinho and Luis Enrique thrown into the mix.

But the strongest link has been with Ancelotti, who has been tipped to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Several of Ancelotti’s former and current Brazilian players have vouched for his suitability, with Silva – who worked with the Italian at AC Milan – the latest to chime in.

“Being honest, I would love it to be him, because of the friendship we have and the understanding. He was my first coach in Europe, at Milan. What he has done throughout his career shows he is ready,” Silva said to TJ Sports USA.

“I don’t know if I’ll be a part of the Brazil team, but I’d love him to accept the offer and make the team play the way he wants football to be played.”

Silva’s Chelsea trail Ancelotti’s Real Madrid 2-0 in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final, with the second leg set to take place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Though many players who have been coached by Ancelotti insist he should manage Brazil, he has maintained that he wants to stay at Real Madrid next season.

“I think so,” Ancelotti recently said when asked if he feels backed by the Real Madrid board. “The president has always been very affectionate with me and he still is.

“We have to look forward. We will be here next season without a doubt because we are going to respect the contract.”

Ancelotti is one of football’s most decorated coaches. After winning La Liga last season, he became the first manager in history to win all of Europe’s top five leagues.

While he has left a trail of glory throughout his career, the Italian is also a renowned man-manager – a trait which would undoubtedly make him suitable for a switch to international football.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says he intends to ‘respect’ his contract at the club, amid continued speculation that he could become Brazil’s new boss.

The veteran Italian also moved to deny suggestions that his assistant and son, Davide, will be departing the Bernabeu in the near future.

The senior Ancelotti has been the subject of intense speculation, with officials from the Brazilian FA making it abundantly clear that they are keen to hire him at the end of the season, but he has always brushed off the rumours.

As 90min reported recently, Ancelotti is keen to remain in Madrid but has not yet received a definitive answer over whether he will be retained for next season, although those in charge are enormous fans of the Italian and reluctant to make any changes.

He is not the only member of his coaching team to face an uncertain future as reports have suggested Davide, who has worked under his father at Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real, could be set to fly the nest to become a first-team manager himself.

Swiss side Basel have been touted as a likely destination for Davide, but Ancelotti has moved to quash speculation that he, or his son, will be leaving.

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“He is finishing his UEFA Pro coaching course in Wales, he’ll finish in May, and then he will be able to coach any type of team,” Ancelotti told Rai Radio 1. “But it won’t be Basel.

“He feels good here and we want to stay here. The day that he wants to start his own managerial career, I think he will, and he’ll do it well.”

“There’s a nice saying that works well here: the wind takes the chatter,” Ancelotti added of his own future. “And that’s it, I have a contract until June 30, 2024, and I would like to respect it.”

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