The Mexico Squad is officially set for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, and Sporting Kansas City striker Alan Pulido is among the selected players ready to represent El Tri. Concacaf unveiled the final 23-man rosters on Thursday, marking the countdown to the tournament kickoff. Mexico finds itself in Group A, alongside Curacao, El Salvador, and a to-be-determined team from the preliminary rounds. Soccer fans in the Dallas Metroplex are in for a treat as Mexico will play all their group stage matches there from July 10-18, broadcasted live on FS1 and the FOX Sports app.
The road to Gold Cup glory will see the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals on July 24-25. The intensity will escalate with the semifinals on July 29, culminating in the final showdown on August 1 at Allegiant Stadium near Las Vegas.
Mexico’s Gold Cup Group Stage Schedule:
- Saturday, July 10 vs. Opponent TBD (9 p.m. CT)
- Wednesday, July 14 vs. Curacao (8:30 p.m. CT)
- Sunday, July 18 vs. El Salvador (9 p.m. CT)
Pulido’s inclusion in the Mexico squad marks his return to the national team after recent appearances for El Tri last month. He made a substitute appearance in the Concacaf Nations League Semifinals in Denver on June 3, confidently converting his penalty in the shootout victory against Costa Rica after a goalless draw. Further solidifying his place, Pulido earned his first start for Mexico since 2018 in a friendly against Honduras in Atlanta on June 12, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has constructed a formidable Mexico squad for the Gold Cup, featuring a trio of MLS talents. Alongside Pulido, LA Galaxy teammates Jonathan Dos Santos and Efrain Alvarez will also don the green and white. Currently ranked 11th in the FIFA world rankings, Mexico enters the tournament as the reigning Gold Cup champion, having triumphed over the United States in the 2019 final. They are aiming to extend their record and secure a ninth Gold Cup title this summer, cementing their dominance in the region.
Tournament regulations allow for roster changes up to 24 hours before a team’s first group stage match in case of injury. Any replacement player must be drawn from the initial 60-man preliminary roster, ensuring a pool of talent to maintain squad strength.
Pulido is one of two Sporting Kansas City players participating in the 2021 Gold Cup. Gianluca Busio, a 19-year-old midfielder, has received his first call-up to the United States Men’s National Team. Kansas City, a candidate host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will be a central location for the U.S. MNT during the group stage. Children’s Mercy Park, Sporting KC’s home ground, will host Gold Cup matches for the fourth time, underscoring its status as a premier soccer venue.
Since joining Sporting Kansas City in 2020, Pulido has been a key player, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in 23 MLS appearances. His consistent performance places him among the top MLS strikers. Notably, Sporting KC boasts an impressive 15-6-2 record when Pulido is in the lineup, highlighting his impact on the team’s success.
This season, Pulido is tied for fourth in MLS with six goals, demonstrating his continued scoring prowess. He found the net in Sporting’s three consecutive wins from May 16-29 and scored a crucial equalizer in a 2-1 comeback victory against LAFC on Saturday. His contributions have been instrumental in Sporting Kansas City’s strong season, currently sitting second in the Supporters’ Shield standings with a 7-3-2 record and a league-leading 22 goals.
Hailing from Ciudad Victoria, Pulido has accumulated five goals in 16 appearances for Mexico’s national team throughout his career. His international experience includes representing Mexico at the 2011 Copa America in Argentina and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He made a memorable senior debut on January 29, 2014, scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 friendly win against South Korea in San Antonio, Texas. He added another goal against the United States in a friendly draw later that year and scored his fifth Mexico goal in a friendly against Iceland in February 2017.
The Concacaf Gold Cup, established in 1991 and held biennially, is the region’s premier international competition, featuring national teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The 16th edition of the tournament will be hosted across eight different U.S. cities, showcasing the best of Concacaf soccer.
