LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017) – LA Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos has been called up to the Mexican National Team for a friendly match in February. The Galaxy forward will join his country for a match against Iceland on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas at 6 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the match are on sale now to the general public via www.UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-FANS, or visit any La Bonita Supermarket.
The Galaxy forward most recently represented Mexico when he started in both of Mexico’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers last year, helping his side earn four points including a 2-1 win over the USMNT in Columbus, Ohio. The 27-year-old forward has made 86 appearances for Mexico all time, scoring 15 goals. Last year, Dos Santos recorded 14 goals and 12 assists during the MLS Regular Season in addition to notching a goal and assist during the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs. He was one of just two players that recorded double-digit goals and assists this year during the MLS Regular Season.
The game will serve as an important opportunity for both national teams to fine-tune their lineups ahead of critical FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Mexico, currently ranked 17th in the FIFA Rankings, will use the Vegas event as preparation for CONCACAF qualifying games against Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago in March. Then during the summer, “El Tricolor” will defend its CONCACAF Gold Cup title and participate in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. Iceland, currently ranked 21st in the world by FIFA, on the heels of its impressive quarterfinal finish in the 2016 UEFA European Championship, will look to sure-up its squad before facing Kosovo as part of UEFA World Cup qualifying, also in March.
Mexico and Iceland have faced-off twice all-time, with both games resulting in scoreless draws and both games played on U.S. soil. The last of the two encounters, played in 2010, drew more than 60,000 fans to Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Though youth Mexican national teams have played in Las Vegas in the past, the Feb. 8 game will be the first time the senior squad will visit the City of Lights.
Mexico National Team Roster:
Goalkeepers: Hugo González (Monterrey), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul).
Defenders: Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres), Rafael Márquez (Atlas), Nestor Araujo (Club Santos), Jesús Gallardo (Pumas), Oswaldo Alanís (Chivas Guadalajara), Luis Reyes (Atlas), Jürgen Damm (Tigres), Raúl López (Pachuca)
Midfielders: Jesús Molina (Monterrey), Jesús Dueñas (Tigres), Edson Álvarez (Club América), Orbelín Pineda (Chivas Guadalajara), Érick Gutiérrez (Pachuca)
Forwards: Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy/EE.UU.), Luis Montes (Club León), Angel Zaldivar (Chivas Guadalajara), Alan Pulido (Chivas Guadalajara), Hirving Lozano (Club Pachuca), Elías Hernandez (Club León)
