The disconnect between success with youth and success at a senior level is more than evident. The U-17 National Team has won two FIFA World Cups and reached two finals. The U-20s have reached a FIFA World Cup final and have achieved one third-placed finish. The U-23s have won an Olympic gold medal and an Olympic bronze medal as well. Instead of heavily investing in providing better opportunities for youth players, as well as reducing the number of foreigners allowed in Liga MX rosters, the Mexican Football Federation has historically turned to other options.

One of those is calling up players that weren’t born in Mexico to the senior national team. The first one in history, according to various Mexican media outlets including ESPN and Futbol Total, was Julio Lores, originally from Perú. Several names have graced the list, with varied levels of success, including Gabriel Caballero, Guillermo Franco, Leandro Augusto and many more. Albeit Mexican by birth but born in Canada, another name to add to the list is that of Marcelo Flores. The Arsenal youth prospect recently declared his intention to play for El Tri on a senior level. Here’s the background on the decision and what FIFA statutes say regarding the controversial call.

Marcelo Flores and his decision

Who is Marcelo Flores? A name you’re probably quite familiar with by now, Flores is the son of former soccer player Rubén Flores, and current Arsenal Under-23 youth player. Born in Ontario, Canada to a Canadian mother with English background and a Mexican father, his sisters Silvana and Tatiana play for Tottenham and Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super League.

Marcelo Flores, who plays as an offensive midfielder, signed his first professional contract for Arsenal in October 2020, joining the London-based club from local club Ipswich Town. Flores already had Gunner minutes under his belt, featuring for the Under-18s, and was shortly after named to The Guardian newspaper’s Next Generation 2020 list, which includes the best young prospects from around the globe. Flores was first called up by manager Mikel Arteta to join the first team for the April 4, 2022 Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

As for his international career, hold onto your seats,because this is a doozie. Flores was first called up by Canada to be a part of a January 2021 camp, but declined the invitation to remain at Arsenal. Six months later, the Arsenal attacker was still being wooed by John Herdman, who included him in the preliminary 60-man list for the 2021 Gold Cup. Flores wasn’t called up to the tournament, and only a few months after that, his name was included by Mexico manager Gerardo Martino in the squad to face Chile in a friendly in December.

Flores played a few minutes in that friendly, and then a few more in an April 2022 match against Guatemala, in Orlando. In mid May, he declared his intention to fully commit his international future to Mexico, leaving behind the strong Canadian option and the far-away English one as well.

This is part of the message Flores wrote on Instagram:

“I’ve always known this day would come. Despite being only 18 years old, for the past few years I have been aware of the footballing privilege I have in being eligible for three different national teams”, he started out, thanking his parents, narrating his life, and explaining the internal conflict of having to choose a country to represent at only 18.

“Being different (not born in Mexico) doesn’t make me less Mexican. Today I speak from the heart and feel the need to communicate something I’ve known to be true for a while that I think is important you hear directly from me: I will represent Mexico wholeheartedly for the rest of my professional life”, he added.

Since then, Flores has been called up to the Mexico 38-player roster that will face three friendlies in the United States against Nigeria, Uruguay and Ecuador, and two Concacaf Nations League games.

What does FIFA have to say about it?

At first, FIFA statues indicated that a player could represent any football association as long as they held the nationality of said territory. “Once a player had participated for the representative team of that football association in an official competition (at any level), they were tied to the “sporting nationality” associated with that football association”, according to the international organization.

An example: Let’s say that a Brazilian soccer player participated in a U-17 World Cup for the Canarinha when he was only 16 years old, playing in only one match of the tournament. If said player moved to Mexico and spent their entire career there, married a Mexican citizen and obtained nationality, they still wouldn’t be eligible to represent El Tri on a senior level. A real life caseof this topic is Rubens Sambueza.

The Argentina-born attacking midfielder has spent the past 12 years of his career in Mexico, starting in 2010 with Tecos, after playing a year for Pumas in 2007. Sambueza was never called up to the Albiceleste senior team, but did participate in the 2001 U-17 FIFA World Cup with them. Sambu shared a team with names like Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano, and only managed to play 65 minutes in the Third Place match against Burkina Faso.

Fast forward 12 years, and then-Mexico National team manager Miguel Herrera wanted to call Sambueza up for the World Cup. FIFA statutes didn’t allow the call, since the attacking midfielder had played a mere 65 minutes in a youth World Cup 12 years prior. That all changed in 2020, when the FIFA Congress approved new rules, allowing for a change of association even for players that had participated for a different national team.

Unfortunately for Sambueza, there are a few caveats to the new ruling, which would still prevent him from currently playing for Mexico. The first one is that players can only switch national sides if they have played three games or fewer for their original teams.

Even though the new statutes indicate that Sambueza could play for El Tri seeing as how he was less than 21 years old when plying his trade for La Albiceleste, what prevents him from wearing the Tricolor jersey is that he played in a match of a final FIFA World Cup tournament or confederation competition. The 35 minutes Sambu played against Burkina Faso in what ended up being a meaningless match ended up deeply hurting his national team chances for Mexico in the future.

Fortunately for Marcelo Flores, he never played an official match for Canada or England, and he holds nationality for all three countries, all before turning 21, which allowed him free reign to choose Tata Martino’s side.

Non-Mexico born players who represented El Tri on a senior level

Now that we explained Flores’ past and present, and that we know the rules for changing a player’s eligibility, what is the process to do so? There are six main steps,according to FIFA.

The first one is the submission of a request by the new association. Then, the FIFA general secretariat reviews the request, and a decision is made by the Players’ Status Committee (PSC), which is intended to ensure compliance with FIFA regulations. After national teams are notified of the terms of the decision by the PSC (“accepted”, “rejected”, or “not admissible”), national associations can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

These rules apply only for players who wish to change national team allegiances, but there are 15 footballers that weren’t born in Mexico that played for El Tri due to them not being selected for their country of origin in an official match.

The first one was Julio Lores, a Peruvian-born player that represented Mexico in the 1935 Central American and Caribbean Games. Then came Spanish-Born Lorenzo Camarena, who lifted the 1932-33 Mexican league title with Necaxa and went on to don the Tri jersey in the same competition in 1935.

Antonio López Herranz, mostly remembered for managing Mexico in the 1954 and 1958 FIFA World Cups, was born in Spain but played for El Tri in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games. Jorge Romo followed suit. Born in Cuba to Mexican parents, in a similar situation to that of Marcelo Flores, Romo played in the 1950, 1954 and 1958 FIFA World Cups.

Spanish-born Carlos Blanco, who played for Necaxa, was part of the Mexican squad for the 1954 and 1958 FIFA World Cups. Carlos Lara, born in Argentina and former Zacatepec player, was a part of the Mexican National Team en route to the 1962 FIFA World Cup but missed the tournament due to injury.

A little over 50 years had to pass until we saw the next player not born in Mexico to represent the country’s national team on a senior level: Gabriel Caballero, the Club Pachuca legend that played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, starting against Croatia and playing against Ecuador and Italy.

After El Eterno came Antonio Naelson Sinha, one of the most technically gifted players for El Tri in the past 20 years. Sinha played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, famously scoring against Iran in the opener of the tournament in Germany against Iran. Someone else who shared the same tournaments albeit with a varied level of success was Guillermo Franco. The Monterrey icon played in 2006 and 2010 but never managed to score in soccer’s top stage.

A flurry of unsuccessful players on a national team level followed. Leandro Augusto was called up by Sven-Göran Eriksson en route to the 2010 World Cup, as was Matías Vuoso, who saved El Tri from failing to make the 2009 Hexagonal thanks to a miraculous goal against Canada. Then came Lucas Ayala in a 2009 friendly and Damián Álvarez in a 2012 friendly, followed by Christian Giménez unsuccessfully featuring in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage.

The newest of the non-Mexico born players to be called up to the national team is Rogelio Funes Mori. The former River Plate man even made his senior debut for Argentina in a 2012 friendly but was never a consistent part of the national team rosters. Funes Mori has scored five goals for Mexico but is yet to be seen as a critical part of Martino’s side. Other players that have been rumored to be called up are Julio Furch and Matheus Doria, but nothing is official as of yet.

With a mixed bag of results for players not born in Mexico, it’s up to Flores to change that perception, but based on this talent and his results for the Arsenal youth teams, it’s not inconceivable to believe it’s possible.

Qatar 2022 is, quite possibly, the farewell World Cup for a generation of players who brought Mexico success at the youth level. Runner-up and U-17 world championships and an Olympic gold medal at London 2012, an unforgettable harvest for El Tri.

However, the talent and dedication of this generation, for many, the golden generation of Mexican soccer, fell short when trying to transcend at the Senior level. Although Mexico won several Gold Cups and did not fail to qualify for the World Cups, in the latter one it was simply impossible for them to advance from the Round of 16.

Which generation of Mexico’s soccer players could say goodbye after Qatar 2022?

Soccer is a profession that many would like to practice. It is attractive, lucrative and fun, however, it is very short. Thus, a soccer player who passes the age of 33 or 34 may be close or very close to saying goodbye to his international career with his National Team. Based on the aforementioned, Mexico will have several casualties after the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Starting with goalkeeping, Guillermo Ochoa and Alfredo Talavera, at 37 and 40 years of age, respectively, are in the final part of their careers, which, although being goalkeepers, could be extended, it would no longer be logical to consider them as the first-choice goalkeepers after Qatar 2022.

In defense, Héctor Moreno has already lost his starting place at the age of 34, so he can be part of this list without objection. If he does not maintain his level, Nestor Araujo, at 30 years of age, may well bring forward his farewell. In midfield, Andres Guardado is in the twilight of his career and Hector Herrera ended his career at the highest level when he left Europe and emigrated to MLS.

Finally, El Tri‘s offensive line will no longer harbor hopes that Chicharito or Carlos Vela can return at the age of 34 and 33 respectively. Rogelio Funes Mori and Raúl Jimenez will no longer be youngsters in 2026 at the age of 31. So a renewal is necessary because Father Time spares no one.

Mexico National Team goes global: the arrival of those not born in Mexico

Globalization is a worldwide phenomenon. It is impossible to escape it or its consequences. Soccer is no exception and Mexico could be affected as never before. The fact is that its flow of migrants, especially to the United States, has brought children not born in Aztec lands but of Mexican parents who inherit their nationality to their children.

Thus, after Qatar 2022, Mexico could have a base of young talents who, despite not being born in their country, have the right and, apparently, the desire to represent it. Thus, El Tri‘s roster would be broad, adding the talents born in Mexico and those brought in by globalization.

David Ochoa – Goalkeeper

A 21-year-old goalkeeper who was born in Oxnard, California. He currently defends the colors of Real Salt Lake of the MLS but there are rumors that his next future would be in Europe. He has already been called up by both the United States and Mexico, but he has already opted for El Tri, with whom he has not yet made his debut.

Julian Araujo – Defender

Player of the LA Galaxy of the MLS. Born 20 years ago in Lompoc, California. Of Mexican parents, he was called up and even played a match with the USMNT, however, he asked FIFA to be able to represent Mexico, with whom he even played in a World Cup Qualifiers match.

Jonathan Gomez – Defender

One more U.S.-born player of Mexican parents who has played for both El Tri and the USMNT. The last National Team defended by the current Real Sociedad B of Spain player was Mexico, in a friendly match in which he played in the final minutes.

Richard Ledezma – Midfielder

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, 21 years ago, this midfielder is currently part of PSV Eindhoven’s first team in the Dutch Eredivisie. He has only played for the United States, but a report from AS Mexico indicates that he has decided to emigrate to El Tri and is currently processing his passport in order to be called up.

Efraín Alvarez – Midfielder

A native of Los Angeles, California, but of Mexican parents who instilled in him the essence of his country to such an extent that he never played for the United States. He is currently part of the LA Galaxy of the MLS, and is an offensive midfielder, skillful and fast, who has already accumulated four games with the Mexico National Team.

Marcelo Flores – Midfielder

Born in Canada to a Mexican father and a mother of English descent, he had the opportunity to choose to represent any of the aforementioned countries. Flores is one of the most striking talents of the Arsenal academy and at the age of 18 has already been on the first team bench in official matches. After playing a couple of friendly matches for Mexico, he announced his total willingness to play only for El Tri.

Cade Cowell – Forward

At only 18 years of age, his physique makes him look older. Cowell’s mother is Mexican, so he inherited that nationality and can play for Mexico. Several media reports indicated that the current MLS San Jose Earthquakes forward, who has already made his senior debut with the USMNT in 2021, may be considering a move to El Tri.

Santiago Muñoz – Forward

Skilled forward born in El Paso, Texas 19 years ago. He is one of those peculiar cases of strikers whose profile is more associative than goal scorer. He currently plays for Newcastle United’s academy, but he made his debut for Santos Laguna in Liga MX and has only represented Mexico at youth level, so nothing is expected to make him move to the USMNT.

Santiago Gimenez – Forward

He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but his father, former soccer player Christian Gimenez, signed with Veracruz of Liga MX in 2004 and has been growing up in Mexico ever since. The today 21 years-oldbecame a naturalized Mexican citizen in 2016 and represented El Tri in youth categories. His debut as a Senior International came in 2021. He even scored his first goal for Mexico.

Nathan Ordaz – Forward

The 18-year-old forward was born in California, but his father is Mexican and his mother is from El Salvador. He was recently signed by the Los Angeles FC academy and, according to ESPN Mexico, he has opted to play for El Tri and is awaiting a call-up to the CONCACAF U-20 championship to confirm his decision.

Those born in Mexico but with dual nationality

Mexico also has players with dual nationality who were born in their own country but who have moved to other countries. In particular, there are a third of them, all of the with an attacking profilewith a very interesting profile, who have already decided to play for El Tri, so they are also part of this list of young talents.

Benjamin Galdames- Midfielder

He was born in Mexico 21 years ago when his father, former Chilean soccer player Pablo Galdames, played in Liga MX. He currently plays for Union Española of Chile, but he has represented Mexico from the lower categories and has even been called up to the Senior level but has not yet made his debut.

Lucas Martinez – Forward

His father is Argentinean Nahuel Martinez, who tried his luck in Mexico at the time he was born, however, his whole family returned to Argentina shortly after. This was enough for him to feel identified with Mexico, to such an extent that he has already been called up to the youth categories of El Tri. Currently, 20-year-old Lucas plays for Rosario Central in Argentina and is recovering from a serious knee injury.

Teun Wilke – Forward

Of Dutch parents, he was born in Mexico in 2002. He develops in the academy of Querétaro of Liga MX, but emigrates to European soccer in 2018. Currently, he plays for the U19 category of SPAL of Italy, and has already been called up to youth categories in Mexico, where he has made it clear that his desire is to play for El Tri.

Flores, who has already been called up by Mikel Arteta to train and appear on the Gunners‘ first-team bench, is currently training with Mexico for what could be his second game in that jersey, a friendly against Guatemala.

The match against the Central American team could be one of the last opportunities for several young players, such as Marcelo Flores, to earn the consideration of Gerardo Martino so that they can be taken into account for the big event of the year, which begins on November 21: the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Marcelo Flores’ request that Mexico would have to comply with in order for him to play with them

One of the privileges, not only of the wonder kids, but of every quality player is to have a special treatment. As long as they can count on them, practically every team is willing to give in to their requests. Perhaps that is the card Flores is playing, as he recently revealed in an interview with TUDN the condition that would have to be met for him to forget about Canada and choose El Tri as his National Team.

“Also Canada could make me the same offer, but if Mexico National Team includes me in its Qatar 2022 roster, I think it would be done. I would choose it“, stated a very confident Marcelo Flores who has not even played a single game with Arsenal’s first-team.

Thus, Mexico would already have Flores’ offer on the table, which it should consider as the Gunners‘ wonder kid made it clear that at this point he has not decided anything yet, despite having already played once with El Tri, and Canada could still be the National Team he chooses to represent.

“Of course I do have the interest on try out for Canada National Team. At the end of the day, I can not say anything bad or something good about them if I have not given them a chance. I visualize myself at the FIFA World Cup even before playing the Olympic Games… I want to play in Qatar 2022, it is my dream to be there, I want to play as many World Cups as possible.“, said Marcelo in an interview for Azteca Deportes.

Tata Martino’s answer to Marcelo Flores came quickly

Martino is a man of very firm convictions. This has been very clear during his time at the helm of Mexico, where he has not hesitated to leave out historic players for El Tri such as Chicharito Hernandez, for not matching the principles, attitudes and behaviors that he prioritizes. Marcelo Flores’ request to go to Qatar 2022 to choose Mexico as his National Team, did not please the former Atlanta United coach.

“He hasn’t decided yet (which National Team he will play for) and that’s not good, nor is speculation that he will play for the team that guarantees he will go to the World Cup. I think that first he has to consolidate himself, be clear about which team he wants to play for and not speculate that he will play for the team that will take him to the World Cup.“, stated Martino in a press conference from Mexico, as he was not able to travel with the Mexican Team to the U.S.A due to medical recommendation.