Carlos Acevedo will have the chance of being the starter goalkeeper of El Tri prior to Qatar 2022

Gerardo “Tata” Martino finally understood that if he wants Mexico National Team to be able to compete against Poland and Argentina in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he’ll have to call the best players available, leaving in the background the trajectory of some of the current players on the team.

More Mexico National Team news:

The $76 million that will make Hirving “Chucky” Lozano arrive at FC Barcelona

It’s no lie to say that players like Andrés Guardado, Héctor Herrera or Héctor Moreno have been some of the best players that El Tri has had in recent years, but that doesn’t erase the fact that, nowadays, they’re below the level needed to play in the national team.

Their participation with the Aztec squad has been disappointing and are part of the reason for which Martino had to prioritize the results over the performances in the CONCACAF Qualifiers, something that El Tri won’t be able to do in the World Cup.

That’s why Martino will use the friendly games that El Tri has agreed to play from April 27 until August 31 to tryout players that don’t often have the chance of wearing El Tri colors, something that will allow him to build a more balanced roster.

Carlos Acevedo will be the starter in the friendly games

One of the players that lead the list is Carlos Acevedo, the Santos Laguna goalkeeper who has earned the right to be called to El Tri with his consistent performances in Liga MX, even if Martino hadn’t considered him prior the last FIFA match window.

According to sports journalist David Medrano, Acevedo will be the starting goalkeeper for the friendly games and the two games of the CONCACAF Nations League, which will open the door for him to compete against Guillermo Ochoa for the starting role in the World Cup.

Acevedo has one cap with the Mexican national team, when he debuted against Chile in December, a game that ended in a 2-2 draw. He has yet to debut on an official match, something that will happen this year, as El Tri will play against Surinam on June 11 and then against Jamaica on June 14.

Will he make it to Qatar 2022?

With his call up to the seven games that Mexico National Team will play up until August, he’s becoming one of the additions to the final roster, and even if he doesn’t become the starter for Qatar 2022, he’ll have plenty of experience for the 2026 World Cup.

More Mexico National Team news:

Gerardo Martino will consider calling this player before giving Marcelo Flores a chance at Qatar 2022