Mexico vs. Costa Rica
2021 Concacaf Nations League Semifinals
Thursday, June 3, 2021 | 9 p.m. CT
Empower Field at Mile High | Denver, Colorado
Broadcast Schedule:
English | Paramount+
Spanish | Univision, TUDN, TUDN.com
Fresh off a sensational month of May with Sporting Kansas City, forward Alan Pulido has joined the Mexico Men's National Team for the highly anticipated and long-awaited 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals in Denver at Empower Field at Mile High.
Four of Concacaf's most successful countries will take part in the decisive phase of the premier competition, with Mexico facing Costa Rica at 9 p.m. CT Thursday in the second semifinal of a mouthwatering doubleheader. The winner will face either the United States or Honduras in Sunday night's final, while the loser will participate in the third-place match on Sunday afternoon.
Both Concacaf Nations League matches on Thursday will be shown live in English on Paramount+ and in Spanish on Univision, TUDN and TUDN.com.
Pulido and LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos are the only MLS players on Mexico’s star-studded 23-man squad for the tournament. Head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino has called on Pulido to serve as an important attacking piece as El Tri looks to hoist the inaugural Concacaf Nations League trophy at the expense of their neighboring rivals.
Sitting at No. 11 in the latest FIFA rankings, Mexico boasts a slew of talent in all areas of the field, including the likes of forwards Hirving Lozano and Jesus Corona and midfielder Hector Herrera—all of whom ply their club trade in Europe. Costa Rica, ranked 50th, is guided by head coach Rónald González Brenes and features five MLS players on its roster: Luis Diaz of the Columbus Crew, Randall Leal of Nashville SC, Francisco Calvo of Chicago Fire FC and FC Cincinnati duo Ronald Matarrita and Allan Cruz.
Mexico holds a decisive edge in the all-time series against Costa Rica, losing just six times in 55 meetings (31-6-18 record). Costa Rica hasn't defeated El Tri since October 2013.
Pulido joins Mexico in a rich vein of form, having scored an MLS-best five goals during the month of May. The 30-year-old striker has helped Sporting string together three consecutive wins, during which time he has bagged four goals and an assist. His production in attack is among the reasons that Sporting occupies second place in the Western Conference, just two points out of first place in the Supporters' Shield standings.
A native of Ciudad Victoria, Pulido has recorded five goals in 14 career caps for Mexico, most recently featuring in El Tri’s 2-2 friendly draw against Algeria last October in the Netherlands. The striker last joined Mexico in March and did not participate in friendlies against Wales and Costa Rica. He has notably represented his country at the 2011 Copa America in Argentina and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Pulido 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.
