Mexico vs Chile 2021: Final Call-up List

The Mexican National Soccer Team confirmed the list of 23 players called up by Gerardo Martino for the friendly match against Chile next Wednesday, December 8th at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. The presence of Julián Araujo stands out, as well as that of youth players Marcelo Flores of Arsenal and Benjamín Galdames of Chile's Unión Española.

Mexico National Team Final Call-up List

The list was completed after the Liga MX finalists were confirmed, as the names of Alfredo Talavera and Erik Lira, both Pumas players, who were beaten by Atlas in the semifinals, were added to the list.

Besides goalkeepers Alfredo Talavera and Luis Ángel Malagón, highlights Carlos Acevedo’s call who had not been considered by Gerardo Martino throughout his management despite the fact that he had been one of the outstanding goalkeepers in Liga MX.

The defense, like the rest of the positions, is full of youth players. However, the call-up of Jordan Silva, who only played 436 minutes in the Apertura 2021, is noteworthy. The rest of the backline is made up of Julián Araujo, Emilio Lara, Luis Olivas, Salvador Reyes, Israel Reyes and Omar Campos.

Among the defenders, it is worth mentioning that Julián Araujo could make his debut with “El Tri” after the LA Galaxy footballer had defended the United States colors. 

In the midfield, the presence of Marcelo Flores, a player from the English Arsenal U-18 team, who shone in the Revelation Cup in November and who also possesses Canadian and English nationality, is a major attraction.

In addition to the youngster, appear Erik Lira, Uriel Antuna, Fernando Beltrán, Alan Cervantes, Sebastián Córdova and Arturo González.

The attacking lineup includes Benjamín Galdames, who had been included in Chile's pre-list for next Wednesday's match. However, the player opted for the Mexican National Team, with which he has been in the youth processes.

Eduardo Aguirre, Santiago Giménez, Mauro Lainez and Efraín Álvarez complete the forward line called up by 'Tata'.

Match record between Mexico and Chile

The rivalry between Mexico and Chile began almost 93 years ago, it was the first South American rival that the Mexican National Soccer Team faced in an official tournament and the author of the highest score against the National Soccer Team in official soccer games.

The first clash between the National Soccer Team and the South Americans was at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games when the Chilean team won 3-1 with a hat-trick by Guillermo Subiabre. In the Uruguay 1930 World Cup, Chile copied the dose and did not concede a goal, a 3-0 win with a brace by Carlos Vidal and an own goal by Manuel Rosas.

In 1952 they faced each other in the first edition of the Pan American tournament, held in Santiago de Chile, the locals won 4-0. Mexico's first victory was in 1956, in the second edition of the Pan American tournament, with Carlos Calderón de la Barca's brace being a factor in the 2-1 win.

Between 1966 and 1996, 10 unofficial meetings were played between Mexico and Chile, with each team winning 5. Two of El Tri's victories came in 1966 (1-0 and 1-0), two in 1972 (2-0 and 2-0), and one in 1991 (1-0). The South Americans won in 1968, 1973, 1984, 1995, and 1996.

From 1999 to 2001 Mexico won 4 in a row against Chile and took a historic lead. Two of the victories took place in the Copa America Paraguay 1999, one in a friendly in April 2001 and the other in the Copa America Colombia 2001.

The first tie between Mexicans and Chileans was on February 18, 2004, 1-1 in a friendly match held in Carson, California. Reinaldo Navia gave the Andeans the lead in the 45th minute and Omar Bravo equalized in the 50th minute. Their next meeting also ended in a 0-0 draw in the 2007 Copa América.

From 2008 to 2018, Mexico has played against Chile nine times, with only three wins for El Tri and two draws in exchange for four Andean victories, the most recent being the 7-0 win at the Copa América Centenario and the 1-0 win in Querétaro on October 16.