Chicharito, Hirving Lozano out for Mexico vs. Honduras World Cup qualifier

Jon Arnold

Chicharito, Hirving Lozano out for Mexico vs. Honduras World Cup qualifier image

Two of Mexico's best attackers did not travel with the national team to Honduras for their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying finale.

Both forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and winger Hirving Lozano are returning to their club teams Europe, the Mexican federation announced Monday. 

Mexico 2/1 to beat Honduras

Lozano suffered an injury in training, dislocating his right elbow in a fall, according to a news release. The national team communicated with Lozano's club team, PSV, and determined a return to the Netherlands is best for his recovery. 

Chicharito asked for special permission because of a personal reason, according to the news release, and was granted his release. 

Mexico has already locked down a place in next summer's World Cup in Russia but has an opportunity to finish with the most points in the history of the Hexagonal round.

El Tri lead the fifth and final round with 21 points, and a win would push them one point ahead of Costa Rica's record set in 2002.

Honduras will be searching for a win to keep its World Cup dream alive, with the nation sitting in fifth place with 10 points. Panama, which sits in fourth and is currently in position for a playoff against either Syria or Australia, also has 10 points but leads on goal differential.

Jon Arnold

Jon Arnold Photo

Jon Arnold covered the Mexico national team and Concacaf region in English for Goal until March 2020. His byline also has appeared in the Dallas Morning News, the New York Times Goal blog, FloFC and Pacific Standard. In addition to his written work, he serves as the Concacaf expert on the BBC's World Football Phone-In and has appeared on SiriusXMFC in English and Fox Deportes and Milenio in Spanish. Formerly based in Tijuana and currently living in Texas, Jon covered the 2018 World Cup, the 2015 Copa America, the 2016 Copa America Centenario and the last five Gold Cups.