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Report: USMNT goalkeeper prospect David Ochoa to train with Mexico during Gold Cup

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A month after celebrating the U.S. men’s national team’s Nations League final victory over Mexico as a member of the USMNT, David Ochoa will now be joining the Mexican National Team as a guest and train at El Tri’s Gold Cup training camp.

According to a report by ESPN, the 20-year-old goalkeeper will practice with Mexico under the watchful eye of head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, but he is not part of the official roster for the upcoming competition.

According to the report, Martino and Mexico have had their eyes on the Real Salt Lake goalkeeper since the end of 2020 and had conversations with Ochoa about having him join them for a camp.

A California native and dual national, Ochoa has represented the United States on multiple youth levels, including at the Under-20 World Cup in 2019 and the 2021 Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament. More recently, Ochoa served as the USMNT’s third goalkeeper at the Concacaf Nations League finals, which saw the Americans defeat Mexico in a dramatic final in Denver.

Ochoa is in the midst of a breakout season with Real Salt Lake, where he is in his first season as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. Ochoa has made 10 starts this season, recording two shutouts.

Comments

  1. Rico Po says it nicely above… these are people, with their own histories. Also, some of the people gnashing their teeth about MLS players playing for other countries are the same ones lamenting the decision to call in an MLS-heavy side for the GC. If MLS players are so awful, why are you worried about them playing for Mexico?

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  2. I don’t usually fault coaches for choosing some players and not others, and I am not of the mindset that calling in young players with potential is the preferred choice most of the time, but Guzan over Ochoa is a real puzzle.

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  3. Don’t get this one…seems like an impetuous decision driven by USoccer’s stupidity to take Guzan (why why) and Johnson (why why) and Mexico exploited the moment…not sure how he can face those same Mexican players he was fighting against in Nations League….let’s hope he has a horrible time and comes back to his senses….

    How can you even think of player for Mexico after having played in a rivalry game….

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  4. I have no problem with Ochoa keeping his options open. He didn’t get called up into the Gold Cup and seems soar over that but hey he has that option. So far none of the Mexicans we have lost really seems like a big loss. However, Ochoa not a lost cause yet. Just a kid keeping hi options open

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  5. Good riddance. He’s a traitor. He got a medal vs Mexico in the NL final. Happily accepted it, then turned his back on the nation, because he wanted to train with our biggest rival. The dude flubbed up in OQ. Let him rot. Dont bite the hand that feeds you.

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  6. No one is happy when a dual national chooses the “other country”. Well, bad news. It’s going to happen more and more. But most of the time it is really good news.

    Most players opt for the country that gives them the best chance of making the roster and getting playing time. As the USA player pool continues to improve and deepen, USA eligible players will look at alternatives where they can play.

    We may not like it, but it’s reality. And its the downside of the very good news about Soccer USA.

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    • This training stint doesn’t mean that Ochoa is gone. Nobody can say at this point how this will play out.

      But to your point, with Steffen and Horvath, we are in pretty good shape at keeper, and figure to be in pretty good shape with those two for the next 5-10 years (they are both 26; young for a keeper). Ochoa is young (20) and maybe will end up surpassing Steffen and Horvath. Or maybe his ceiling with the USA is 3rd string.

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  7. This is what happens when you continue to called washed out players to the national team while not encouraging players THAT SHOULD BE THE FUTURE of US Soccer. Why are we calling in Brad Guzan? Why??? Like sometimes we blame the players but sometimes the US Coaching staff are the centre of the problem. Ochoa should be in Camp for the USMNT

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  8. What happened to getting time with RSL as to why GB left him off the GC? Ochoa & Araujo we’re getting booed by El Tri fans every time they touch the ball during OQ. I thought there would be more upset US fans on this one.

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  9. Well……… I tend to think the NL win glossed over plenty of ineptitudes… the abysmal Olympic roster/failure… the GC roster which in many ways mirrors the same mindset. Seeing this- I can’t help but ask the question I did when I saw the roster- why was Ochoa not on our GC roster instead of 2 goalkeepers who have ZERO future with the national team? He absolutely should have been. Full stop. B. Guzan for F sakes?

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  10. It seems like we lose all of our Mexican and Canadian dual-nationals and do quite well with our dual-nationals from elsewhere. I’d like to hold on to all of them, but if it’s one or the other, I’ll take the rest of the world, thanks. You listening, Folarin Balogun?

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  11. This kind of leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, bc how do you revel in beating Mexico in the Nations League to now training with Mexico a month later for the GC, where the possibility exist that the 2 teams could meet in the Finals again? Ochoa has never impressed me tbh, and I still blame him for the US U-23’s not qualifying for the Olympics because of that laughable own goal he gave up vs Honduras

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    • Did you see the 1st group match vs Costa Rica in OQ? Jesus scored the game winner, but Ochoa kept the ball out of the net. It’s US tradition to hold grudges against players for mistakes. I get it! What’s the point of being a fan, if you can’t bring up the low points. Friendly reminder – Horvath had a huge gaff vs Portugal in ‘18. I remember because it was McKennie’s 1st cap. Some said Horvath sucked. I guarantee you those same people were celebrating the NL win vs El Tri! Mexico doesn’t have a GK Ochoa’s age with Ochoa’s talent or skill. Even with his huge mistake in OQ, I’ll take him over Guzan & Johnson any day.

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    • Overall- Ochoa had a very good showing, with a single poor gaff. He kkept a mostly very mediocre US team in every game. I understand some of the emotions behind such statements. I’d just respectfully say it may be a bit unfair. Musah, Dest came to us through the exact same sort of process. Musah played, cheered for, bled for England. I have no doubts about him doing the same for US with the same passion- likely more as he fights overcomes trials builds a relationship/rapport with his new team mates. with. Ochoa is in a process of exploring options… for his life, his career that he will have to live with. Again- had GB called him into camp rather than to inexplicably bring 2 keeps with no realistic future on our team- we wouldn’t be having this discussion. To those with an all or nothing- us or them viewpoint- I’d respectfully say you haven’t walked a mile in the shoes of those with a multi-national, multi-cultural background. I can 100% say from firsthand experience that it is every bit as possible to be devoted to and love 2 nations as it is 2 children. Cheers

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