The countdown has started. Mexico's World Cup preparations are well underway.
While injuries to key players like Andres Guardado and Hector Moreno, who are expected to recover ahead of the World Cup, and Nestor Araujo, who will not, have brought the mood down, Mexico is ready to start its journey to Russia.
The first friendly of three before the World Cup takes place Monday, with Juan Carlos Osorio's squad taking on Ryan Giggs' Wales in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Injuries and Rafa Marquez's inability to travel to the United States means Mexico could be shorthanded - specifically in defense - but El Tri will be eager to get things started off on the right foot before heading back to Mexico City to continue preparations.
| Game | Mexico vs. Wales |
| Date | Monday, May 28 |
| Time | 9 p.m. ET |
| Stream (US only) | fuboTV (7-day free trial) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
Watch Mexico vs. Wales live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
Squads & Team News
| Position | Mexico players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ochoa, Corona |
| Defenders | Ayala, Alanis, Alvarez, Gallardo |
| Midfielders | Herrera, Aquino, Molina, Damm, Gutierrez, Dos Santos |
| Forwards | Hernandez, Peralta, Jimenez, Corona, Lozano, Dos Santos, Vela |
Osorio may have to get creative at the back with Hector Moreno and Diego Reyes both facing injury recoveries and other defenders not yet with the team after their European seasons.
Potential starting XI: Ochoa; Alvarez, Ayala, Alanis, Gallardo; Herrera, Molina, Aquino; Corona, Chicharito, Lozano
| Position | Wales players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Hennessey, Maxwell, Davies |
| Defenders | Gunter, Williams, Davies, Richards, John, Lockyer, Mepham, Roberts |
| Midfielders | Ledley, Ramsey, King, Wilson, Hedges, Brooks, Evans, Smith, Thomas |
| Forwards | Vokes, Lawrence, Bradshaw |
Gareth Bale did not travel with Wales, playing and scoring in the Champions League final with Real Madrid. Aaron Ramsey has made the trip, though, and is looking for his first minutes under manager Ryan Giggs.
Potential starting XI: Hennessey; Lockyer, Williams, Davies; Gunter, King, Ledley, John; Ramsey, Vokes, Wilson
Betting & Match Odds
Mexico is favored to win with dabblebet putting El Tri at 8/15 to win with Wales at 11/2. A draw is going for 13/5.
Click here to see all of dabblebet's offers for this weeks' international friendly matches.
Game Preview
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio hoped to have everything set up at this point but as Monday's friendly will show, Mexico isn't totally ready for the World Cup.
Andres Guardado, Hector Moreno and Diego Reyes are with El Tri but nursing injuries while Carlos Salcedo and Miguel Layun are among players who are still on break after their European seasons.
That means El Tri's defense against Wales could be thin, with Liga MX duo Edson Alvarez and Jesus Gallardo potentially starting as the outside backs.
Things are deeper up front with Hirving Lozano, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Raul Jimenez and Jesus "Tecatito" Corona all in camp and ready to go. They'll be going against a Wales team that has often played with a three-man back line under Ryan Giggs.
Osorio noted that group opponents Sweden and South Korea both looked to be locked into a back four, but that Germany could use a similar setup - though even that might be a stretch.
Osorio wants to focus on how his team performs instead of using the match as a clone for how a group opponent will play, with the coach still needing to trim four players off his provisional squad before the June 4 roster deadline date.
Midfielder Erick Gutierrez, winger Jurgen Damm and Alvarez all need to have standout matches if they want to convince the manager they must be on the final list over players who have more experience with El Tri.
