Mexico vs. Honduras
2021 Concacaf Gold Cup | Quarterfinals
Saturday, July 24, 2021 | 9 p.m. CT
State Farm Stadium | Glendale, Arizona
Broadcast Schedule:
English | FS1
Spanish | Univision, TUDN
Streaming | FOX Sports app, TUDN app
Sporting Kansas City forward Alan Pulido and the Mexico Men's National Team will continue their pursuit of a second straight Concacaf Gold Cup title on Saturday night when they square off against rivals Honduras at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The quarterfinal clash is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT with live coverage in English on FS1 and the FOX Sports app and in Spanish on Univision, TUDN and the TUDN app.
Pulido appeared in two of Mexico's three group stage matches as El Tri finished atop Group A, atoning for a stale 0-0 draw against Trinidad and Tobago in their tournament opener by defeating Guatemala and El Salvador with substitute appearances from the Sporting striker.
Joining Mexico for his first career Gold Cup tournament, Pulido has thus far provided reinforcement for an attack spearheaded by Monterrey frontman Rogelio Funes Mori. El Tri didn't concede a single goal in the group stage and owns six straight clean sheets since falling 3-2 to the United States in the Concacaf Nations League Final last month in Denver.
Led by head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino, Mexico will look to extend that gaudy defensive record against a Honduras side that finished second in Group D, losing 2-0 to upstart Qatar after edging Panama 3-2 and pasting Grenada 4-0.
Mexico's Gold Cup roster features three MLS stars, including Pulido and LA Galaxy duo Efrain Alvarez and Jonathan dos Santos. Honduras, meanwhile, has a pair of Houston Dynamo FC veterans in 38-year-old Maynor Figueroa and 37-year-old Boniek Garcia as well as CF Montreal forward Romell Quioto and FC Dallas midfielder Bryan Acosta.
Mexico and Honduras most recently met on June 12, scrapping to a goalless friendly draw at Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta with Pulido earning a start. El Tri holds a 24-8-10 all-time record against Honduras, including shutout wins in each of the last two Gold Cup meetings in 2011 and 2017, respectively.
Held every two years, the Gold Cup is the regional championship for Concacaf and just like in the European Championships and Copa America, lifting the trophy brings prestige and regional supremacy. Over the course of 15 previous Gold Cup tournaments, the United States has lifted the trophy six times (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017), just behind all-time leaders Mexico with eight (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019). Canada is the only other tournament champion, having lifted the title in 2000.
Pulido has bagged five goals in 18 career caps for Mexico. The forward made his senior international debut on Jan. 29, 2014, scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 friendly win against South Korea in San Antonio, Texas. He added another goal in a 2-2 friendly draw with the United States over two months later and bagged his fifth Mexico goal in a friendly win over Iceland in February 2017.
