The Mexico Under-20 National Team announced the list of players that will travel to San Jose to take on the MLS Homegrown Team in the 2016 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game on Wednesday, July 27 at 6 p.m. PT at Avaya Stadium. The match will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com.
Tickets to the 2016 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game can be purchased at www.chipotlehomegrown.com.
Highlighting the Mexico U-20 roster are Chivas midfielder Luis Márquez, who featured for Mexico in the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, Morelia forward Ulises Jaimes, a Mexico Under-23 Toulon Tournament participant, and Pachuca goalkeeper Abraham Romero, who started for Mexico in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile last year. A familiar face is also slated to take on the MLS Homegrowns in goalkeeper Christian Herrera, who is currently on loan with Pachuca from Real Monarchs SLC – Real Salt Lake’s USL affiliate. In addition, four players born in 1995 were included on the traveling roster.
The Mexico U-20s are one of the region’s most accomplished youth national teams, laying claim to 13 CONCACAF U-20 Championship titles, most recently winning the past three editions of the tournament in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
MLS Homegrown Team head coachLandon Donovan named his 20-man roster last week which can be found HERE. Due to injury, Orlando City SC midfielder Harrison Heath and Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Aaron Kovar have been replaced by New England Revolution midfielder and recent Haiti National Team call-up Zachary Herivaux and Houston Dynamo midfielder Christian Lucatero.
The Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game provides an annual platform in which to showcase MLS’ premier young talent and demonstrate the growth of the league’s youth development system. MLS academies continue to attract and cultivate topflight prospects and have now produced over 150 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs.
2016 Mexico Under-20 National Team Roster
Including additional players born in 1995
Coach: Mario Arteaga
Name: Abraham Isaí Romero González
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Pachuca
Birthday: February 18, 1998
Participation with the National Team: Was a starter in the FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifiers in Honduras in 2015 and in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
Name: Christian Herrera
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Pachuca
Birthday: April 20, 1997
Participation with the National Team: On loan with Pachuca from Real Salt Lake’s USL affiliate, Real Monarchs SLC, has been called up to the U-17 and U-20 Mexican National Teams.
Name: José Villegas Cruz
Position: Defender
Club: Pachuca
Birthday: April 6, 1996
Participation with the National Team: Was part the process that led to Mexico’s U-17 participation in the United Arab Emirates World Cup 2013.
Name: Edwin Lara Barrios
Position: Defender
Club: Pachuca
Birthday: August 9, 1999
Participation with the National Team: Participated in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and started in the semifinal match against Nigeria.
Name: Miguel Ángel Tapias Dávila
Position: Midfielder
Club: Mineros
Birthday: January 9, 1997
Participation with the National Team: Has earned call-ups to the U-18 and U-20 Mexican National Teams.
Name: Pablo Jaquez Isunza
Position: Defender
Club: Pumas
Birthday: September 29, 1995
Participation with the National Team: A product of the Pumas de la UNAM Academy, Pablo has earned call ups to the U-18 and U-20 National Teams, participating in the World Cup qualifiers held last year in Jamaica.
Name: Andrés Iniestra Vázquez
Position: Midfielder
Club: Pumas
Birthday: March 11, 1996
Participation with the National Team: Andrés earns his first call-up to the National Team and is already training with Puma’s first team.
Name: Omar Islas Hernández
Position: Forward
Club: Pumas
Birthday: April 13, 1996
Participation with the National Team: Omar earns his first call-up to the National Team and is already training with Puma’s first team.
Name: Jorge Alberto Escamilla Moreno
Position: Midfielder
Club: Pumas
Birthday: November 1, 1995
Participation with the National Team: Has earned call-ups to the U-18 and U-20 Mexican National Teams.
Name: César Ulises Hernández Pérez
Position: Defender
Club: Chivas
Birthday: February 11, 1996
Participation with the National Team: This is his first call-up to the Mexican National Team.
Name: Bryan Salazar Haro
Position: Defender
Club: Chivas
Birthday: February 25, 1998
Participation with the National Team: Participated in the FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifiers in Honduras in 2015 and in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. Scored a goal in the World Cup quarterfinals against Ecuador.
Name: Aldo Yanin Benítez Montes
Position: Defender
Club: Toluca
Birthday: January 30, 1996
Participation with the National Team: Was part of the U-20 National Team that played the qualifiers in Jamaica last year.
Name: David Israel Ávalos Toro
Position: Midfielder
Club: Chivas
Birthday: August 24, 1998
Participation with the National Team: Has earned call-ups to the U-18 and U-20 Mexican National Teams.
Name: Luis Alberto Márquez Quezada
Position: Midfielder
Club: Chivas
Birthday: February 10, 1995
Participation with the National Team: Participated in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand and played the group stage match against Serbia.
Name: Daniel Armando Ríos Calderón
Position: Forward
Club: Chivas
Birthday: February 22, 1995
Participation with the National Team: The young striker from Chivas de Guadalajara has earned call-ups to the U-18 and U-20 National Teams.
Name: Rubén Domínguez López
Position: Midfielder
Club: Chivas
Birthday: May 5, 1997
Participation with the National Team: This is his first call to the Mexican National Team.
Name: Ian de Jesús Arellano Lira
Position: Midfielder
Club: FC Juárez
Birthday: July 2, 1997
Participation with the National Team: Earned call ups to the U-15, U-17 and U-20 National Teams.
Name: Luis Fernando Cruz Ontiveros
Position: Forward
Club: Zacatepec
Birthday: January 16, 1997
Participation with the National Team: Has earned call-ups to the U-15, U-17 and U-20 National Teams.
Name: Ulises Jaimes Huerta
Position: Forward
Club: Morelia
Birthday: April 20, 1996
Participation with the National Team: Participated in the U-17 National Team that played the qualifiers in Panama in 2013 and then the World Cup in The United Arab Emirates, where Mexico was runner up. This year he played in Toulon with the U-23 National Team that will go to the Olympics.
