Mexico Squad for the November Nations League tie against Honduras

Mexico and Honduras will meet for a double header later this month in the CONCACAF Nations League with one team set to book their place into the final four.

These fixtures will be the first competitive matches for El Trí since Javier Aguirre returned to the helm. In his opening four games since taking over in September, Mexico beat New Zealand and ended a five-year winless drought against the US with a 2-0 victory in Guadalajara. Their other games under Aguirre featured a 0-0 draw with Canada and a 2-2 stalemate with Valencia at the Estadio Cuautéhmoc in Puebla.

This is the 27-man squad chosen by Aguirre to face Honduras:

Guillermo Ochoa has retained his place in the national team after falling out of favour for the Copa América in the summer. The 39-year-old joined Portuguese top-flight side AVS Fútbol SAD this summer and has played a key role for them since joining from Salernitana in Italy. Whilst Ochoa is expected to play a backup role in November, he will be the understudy for Luis Malagón and Raúl Rangel, with the former earning a nomination for World Goalkeeper of the Year by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.

There was speculation that Athletic Bilbao youngster Álex Padilla would return to the Seléccion after earning a call-up in September, but Aguirre has opted for experience over youth.

Over noticeable call-ups include the former Cruz Azul full-back Rodrigo Huescas who has continued to impress since joining the Danish side FC Copenhagen. Earning his praises in Europe, Huescas has become a fan favourite and at the age of 21, is a name many Mexican fans can expect to see in the future.

Contesting Jorge Sánchez for the right-back spot, many will be surprised by the absence of Julián Araujo, despite his strong start to the season with AFC Bournemouth, a side that recently defeated both Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League. The 22-year-old made the move to England from Barcelona after a loan spell with Las Palmas last season, where he developed into a reliable defender.

In midfield, the standout selection is Cruz Azul's Alexis Gutiérrez. The 24-year-old, who previously represented Mexico at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels, now gets his first senior call-up. Gutiérrez has been in fine form, starting every match for La Maquina in October, contributing a goal and two assists, and netting the opener in their recent clash with Atlas.

Aguirre has opted to shake up his attacking options for the final squad selection of 2024, introducing some notable changes. In-form Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez retains his place following his goal and assist against the US last month, while Ángel Sepúlveda makes his return after netting eight goals in 16 matches for Cruz Azul. Joining them is Tigres winger Ozziel Herrera, who debuted for El Tri in April 2023 and now earns his first call-up of the year. The 23-year-old steps in for his Tigres teammate Uriel Antuna, who has seen only four minutes of action in the club’s last four games.

Mexico will travel to Honduras for the first leg which will be played Saturday 16th November, before heading to the Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca for the second leg on Wednesday 20th November.

What are your thoughts for the November Mexico squad? Let us know!