Carlo Costly (white jersey), shown competing for Olimpia in a recent Scotiabank CONCACAF League game against Alajuelense, has not played in a World Cup qualifier for Honduras since March 29, 2016.
MEXICO CITY – Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio named Thursday a 25-player roster for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Panama (September 1, home) and Costa Rica (September 5 away).
The Mexicans sit atop the CONCACAF Hexagonal table unbeaten through six games (4W-2D-0L) and are virtually assured of a spot at Russia 2018. They hold a six-point lead over the United States, which currently occupies the third and last automatic qualifying place.
Forwards Javier Hernandez and Hirving Lozano highlight a squad that is balanced with experience and youth. Hernandez has two goals in two English Premier League games with West Ham to start the 2017/18 season, while Lozano has netted twice in a two Dutch Eredivisie outings since joining PSV Eindhoven from 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League champion Pachuca.
Osorio also called up Club America defender Edson Alvarez, who scored one goal in five games at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 19-year-old had the same statistical line in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Mexico is the only team in CONCACAF not to lose a match in the current World Cup Qualifying cycle, posting an overall 9-3-0 record.
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Rodolfo Cota (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege/Belgium)
DEFENDERS: Edson Alvarez (Club America), Nestor Araujo (Santos), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Hector Moreno (Roma/Italy), Jair Pereira (Guadalajara), Diego Reyes (Porto/Portugal)
MIDFIELDERS: Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy/USA), Jesus Dueñas (Tigres), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Andres Guardado (Real Betis/Spain), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Hector Herrera (Porto/Portugal), Orbelin Pineda (Guadalajara), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad/Spain)
FORWARDS: Javier Aquino (Tigres), Jesus Manuel Corona (Porto/Portugal), Jurgen Damm (Tigres), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy/USA), Elias Hernandez (Leon), Javier Hernandez (West Ham/Mexico), Raul Jimenez (Benfica/Portugal), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands)
