As Mexico prepares to chase a record 10th title at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, all eyes are on El Tri to assert their dominance once again on the North American stage. With the United States and Canada fielding understrength squads, the path is seemingly clear for Mexico to extend its regional supremacy.
The Gold Cup has long been Mexico’s domain. Since its rebranding from the CONCACAF Championship in 1991, the tournament has seen 18 previous editions, and Mexico has lifted the trophy on nine occasions—winning half of all editions played. In fact, El Tri has never failed to reach at least the quarter-finals, and their most recent success in Los Angeles in 2023 cemented their place as the region’s most consistent powerhouse.
This year, under coach Javier Aguirre, Mexico is viewed as the overwhelming favorite, especially with key rivals fielding rotated squads ahead of club obligations and the long-term focus on the World Cup.
The tournament, which begins on June 14, also serves as a crucial dress rehearsal ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the three North American giants. For Mexico, it’s not just about regional bragging rights—it’s a moment to fine-tune the squad, strengthen chemistry, and showcase depth.
And yet, a notable figure is missing from the squad list: Henry Martin, a proven forward and fan favorite, is absent from the team’s Gold Cup campaign. This omission has raised questions across Mexican media and among the national team’s passionate supporters.
Why is Henry Martin not in Mexico’s squad?
So, why isn’t Henry Martin, a veteran attacker and reliable presence for both Club America and the national team, part of this all-important campaign?
The announcement of the Gold Cup squad came at the start of June, and Martin’s name was not among the forwards. In addition, he missed Mexico’s two high-profile friendlies against Turkey (June 7) in Salt Lake City and Switzerland (June 10) in Chapel Hill, further deepening the mystery.
“Mexico coach Javier Aguirre will not be able to count on two key players for Mexico in the Gold Cup,” confirmed the FMF (Mexican Football Federation). “Hirving Lozano and Henry Martin will be unavailable for El Tri in the upcoming North American national team tournament.”
The 32-year-old suffered a muscle tear in his left hamstring, diagnosed at the national team’s training center in Mexico City. After the diagnosis, the Club America veteran withdrew from the training camp and returned to Club America to begin his recovery. He also missed his team’s most recent fixture against LAFC on May 31, a clear indication of the severity of the injury.
