FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017: Mexico announce their 21-man squad for showpiece event

What's the story?

Mexico has announced its 21-man U-17 squad for next month's FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. El Tri are among the favourites for the showpiece event and they have named a strong line up of players to carry the nation's hopes in a competition they have won two times in the past.

In case you didn't know...

Mexico last won the FIFA U-17 World Cup on home soil in 2011 and will look to reclaim the cup this year. El Tri qualified for the World Cup by lifting the CONCACAF U-17 Championship earlier this year and, in the absence of Nigeria, are among the three heavy favourites alongside Brazil and Germany.

The heart of the matter

Head coach Mario Arteaga has kept his trust in the crop of players that helped El Tri win the CONCACAF U-17 Championship and here is the full 21-man Mexico squad.

Goalkeepers: Víctor André Alcaráz Díaz (Guadalajara), César Iván López De Alba (Guadalajara), César Rafael Ramos Becerra (Monterrey)

Defenders: Alan Maeda Luevanos (Saints), Luis Alejandro Olivas Salcedo (Guadalajara), Oscar Haret Ortega Gatica (America), Carlos Alejandro Robles Jiménez (Atlas), Adrián Vázquez Hernández (Pachuca), Sergio Villarreal Lozano (Monterrey), Raúl Martín Sandoval Zavala (Tijuana)

Midfielders: Luis Javier Gamíz Ávila (Tijuana), Carlos Eduardo Guerrero Zavala (Lion), Alexis Hazael Gutiérrez Torres (Guadalajara), Diego Laínez Leyva (America), Deivoon Alexander Magaña Rico (Guadalajara), Jesús Andrés Pérez Álvarez (Querétaro), Marco Antonio Ruíz Zarco (Atlas)

Forwards: Ian Jairo Misael Torres Ramírez (Atlas), Roberto Carlos De la Rosa González (Pachuca), César Saúl Huerta Valera (Guadalajara), Daniel Guadalupe López Valdez (Tijuana)

Jose Alvarado, Andres Catalan, Alan Torres and Victor Reyes have missed the cut.

What's next?

Mexico will kick start their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign against Iraq on 8th October at the Salt Lake Stadium. El Tri are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to land another U-17 World Cup as they will head to Malaga in Spain for the final leg of their preparation before they embark on their Indian sojourn.

Author's take

Mexico's squad has heavy representation from big clubs like Guadalajara, Pachuca and Club America hence they are considered to be among the favourites for the title. With the quality of talent at his disposal, Arteaga will be expected to at least make it into the semi finals.