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Mexican National Team to play June 12 in Atlanta

By Kristian Dyer

Atlanta United has underwhelmed this season. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta United has underwhelmed this season. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Get ready for more El Tri this year in the United States.

The Mexican national team will play two friendlies in the United States this summer, announcing on Thursday a June 12 match against Honduras at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The all CONCACAF meeting pairs with their previously announced friendly against Iceland on May 29 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the home of Atlanta United in MLS.

The match could well feature a prominent few MLS stars such as Chicharito, fresh off a hat trick this past weekend for LA Galaxy in a 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls. There is also his Galaxy teammate with the Galaxy, Jonathan dos Santos, who has had an influential first two matches in league play.

Across town, Carlos Vela of LAFC has had two tremendous seasons in MLS and is an important part of Mexico’s squad as well as being the catalyst for his club side. It will be interesting to see if Jurgen Damm, a pacey winger for Atlanta United, might get a look from Tata Martino for any of these matches.

Martino is a former coach of Atlanta United and won MLS Cup in 2018 with the club.

Damm, a 28-year old attacker, hasn’t started yet for Atlanta United but he could be on the verge of a bigger role with his club team. His latest appearance for the national team was in 2018.

And while he isn’t starting for his club team in league play, with 31 substitute minutes off the bench, with regular playing time the winger could play himself into consideration for a call-up by Martino.

Damm did start and play the full 90 minutes in Atlanta United’s 3-0 home loss to the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Mexico will be featured heavily in the United States this summer with the two friendly matches starting in late May followed by this summer’s CONCACAF Champions League, where they figure to be favorites to advance to the tournament’s final in Denver.

There are also pending Nations League and World Cup qualifying matches for El Tri that can bring further matches to the United States.

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