Mexico vs Bolivia-Mexico and Bolivia begin their Copa America preparations on Friday night with a tune-up at Soldier Field.
Mexico vs Bolivia-See how and the odds
Date: Friday, May 31 | Time: 8pm ET
Location: Soldier Field — Chicago
TV: FOX Deportes Stream: Fubo (Try Free)
Odds: Mexico -300; draw +360; Bolivia +650
Team news
Mexico: Edson Alvarez could start in midfield unless Jaime Lozano gives the West Ham United and El Tri star a breather. Santiago Gimenez will hope to carry over his fine Feyenoord form this summer while Alexis Vega, Uriel Antuna, Julian Quinones, Marcelo Flores and Cesar Huerta are all threats out wide. Mexico vs Bolivia-However, the absence of Hirving Lozano, Raul Jimenez and Guillermo Ochoa has raised eyebrows.
Probable Mexico XI: Malagon; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Arteaga; Chavez, Alvarez, Sanchez; Anatuna, Jimenez, Vega.
Bolivia: Mexico vs Bolivia-Ramiro Vaca should have secured the win against Andorra earlier this year and Henry Vaca scored alongside Ramiro in the win over Peru but Jago has left him out of Bolivia’s squad for the Copa America.
Possible Bolivia XI: Lampe; Quinteros, Alvarez, Sagredo; Saavedra, Cespedes, Justiniano, Duran; Vaca, Algarnaz, Sotomayor.
Prophecy
It should be easy enough for Mexico to start with a win and a clean sheet would be a big boost ahead of what promises to be a challenging summer for El Tri. Pick: Mexico 2, Bolivia 0.
The game in Chicago is the first of three friendlies for both countries in the build-up to the continental showpiece, and they aim to build momentum for the finals in the US.
Mexico returns to action for the first time since losing the CONCACAF Nations League final against the USMNT, eager to get back to winning ways football game.
A 2-0 loss to Greg Berhalter’s men continued El Tri’s mixed results from the back end of 2023, with Jaime Lozano’s men claiming three wins in their last seven matches the previous year.
With friendlies against Uruguay and Brazil, Friday night could be Mexico’s best chance to record a positive result ahead of their June 23 tournament opener.
The Mexicans’ recent results in non-competitive games do not bode well for a positive result at the Soldier Field, with El Tricolor claiming two wins in their last eight.
Only two clean sheets have been kept in that period, notably the 2-0 wins over Guatemala and Ghana, indicating what Lozano’s men need to do right to secure victory this week.
Bolivia are not expected to concede to the opposition, keen to build on their last friendly success against Andorra in March, 1-0.
La Verde’s previous results have been underwhelming, with seven defeats in eight games building on the team’s struggles under Antonio Carlos Jago.
Although Jago has only been in situ for four matches, the 55-year-old will point to the team’s improvement under him with wins over Peru (2-0) and Andorra (1-0).
Both victories saw the Green claim clean sheets, and it remains to be seen whether it is possible to keep Mexico out on Friday night, Mexico vs Bolivia-with El Tri last failing to score in a friendly in September 2022 loss to Paraguay.
Regardless of the result at Soldier Field, Bolivia is seemingly on an encouraging path under Zag, Mexico vs Bolivia-and they will be hoping for another positive showing to build some momentum ahead of their Copa America opener against the host USMNT on June 23.
Mexico vs Bolivia-West Ham United’s Edson Alvarez is El Tri’s top player and could start in midfield unless Lozano rests the Mexico captain.
Santiago Gimenez, who scored 23 Eredivisie goals for Feyenoord last season, is their main penalty box threat, while Alexis Vega, Uriel Antuna, Julian Quinones, Marcelo Flores and Cesar Huerta can cause Bolivia problems from wide positions.
Hirving Lozano’s absence from the 31-man squad was notable, with Mexico manager Raul Jimenez and Guillermo Ochoa left out of his provisional squad.
Ramiro Vaca, the scorer in the 1-0 success against Andorra, is part of the group, and the Bolivar man should play from the off.
Henri Vaca was Bolivia’s other goalscorer — along with Ramiro — in a 2-0 win over Peru in November 2023, but the midfield man is missing from the preliminary group for this summer’s Copa America.
Mexico vs Bolivia lineup:
Mexico’s probable starting lineup:
Malagon; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Arteaga; Chavez, Alvarez, Sanchez; Anatuna, Jimenez, Vega
Bolivia Probable Starting Lineup:
In the lamp; Quinteros, Alvarez, Sagredo; Saavedra, Cespedes, Justiniano, Duran; Vaca, Algarnaz, Sotomayor
We say: Mexico 2-0 Bolivia
Mexico vs Bolivia-Neither team has pulled the trigger in non-competitive games over the last 18 to 24 months, but Mexico’s superior firepower Lozano’s El Tri side should claim a regular win against a young Bolivian side who have generally flourished under Jago.