All of the best USMNT players playing in Mexico’s Liga MX

The USMNT take on Mexico to open the final round of qualifying, aka 'The Hex', for the third time in the past five World Cup Qualifying cycles. These teams are more than familiar with each other, but a few members of the USMNT know Mexico better than anyone, playing their club soccer in Liga MX. Here are the national teamers who play their club ball in Mexico's top division.

Born in the U.S. to Mexican parents, defender Ventura Alvarado signed with Club America in 2008 as a teenager. He's been with them since then, working his way through the youth ranks to make his first-team debut in 2012. He's been at the club for his entire professional career, save for a year loan to Necaxa in 2013-14. 

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California native Paul Arriola trialed with Tijuana as a teenager, but failed to earn a contract with the club. After a stint in the LA Galaxy academy, he was offered a contract by the MLS club, but opted to sign for Tijuana when they finally came calling in 2012. He's been with the club since 2013, making 60 appearances, and picking up three caps for the national team since his full debut in May of 2016.

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A mainstay in Bob Bradley's national team selections, Jonathan Bornstein left Chivas USA for Tigres in 2011. He's been in Mexico ever since, going out on loan to Atlante and Queretaro before signing permanently for Los Gallos Blancos in 2015. Jurgen Klinsmann hasn't given him a look, but he's carved out a really nice career in Liga MX.

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New Mexico native Edgar Castillo's played his entire professional career in Mexico. He started in '06 with Santos Laguna, then moved to América where he had several loan stints around the country. From there, he moved to Tijuana for two years, then Atlas for a year, finally settling in Monterrey in 2015.

Fun fact: Edgar Castillo's one of only two players to earn a senior cap for both the USMNT and Mexico.

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Joe Corona played a year of college soccer at San Diego State before signing with Club Tijuana in 2010. He made 110 appearances for the club before going on loan at Veracruz in 2015, and Sinaloa in 2016, where he is now. He has 17 caps for the U.S. senior team.

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A Texas native, Greg Garza came through the Sporting CP youth system in Portugal before signing a senior contract with Estoril Praia. A year later in 2011, he joined up with Club Tijuana, where he's been ever since. He looked like the Americans' left back of the future before a hip injury sidelined him, but he's back on the pitch for Xolos and might be for the U.S. soon too.

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A Generation Adidas player, Luis Gil played for five years in a Real Salt Lake shirt, making nearly 150 appearances before moving to Queretaro in 2016. He was a regular for every U.S. youth team, but hasn't quite broken through for the senior team.

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An LA Galaxy mainstay for six years, Gonzalez won three MLS Cups with the side before moving to Pachuca in 2015. A serial winner, he was a key part of the Tuzos side who won the Liga MX Clausura title in 2016, which helped get him back in the national team after falling out of favor following the 2014 World Cup.

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Born in Texas, Torres played for seven years at Pachuca, winning three CONCACAF Champions Leagues before moving to Tigres in 2013. He's been successful there as well, winning the Liga MX Apertura, Copa MX Clausura, and Campeon de Campeones in his time at the Monterrey-based club.

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California native Orozo Fiscal has spent his entire professional career in Mexico. He started his career at San Luis in 2006, spending a season on loan at the Philadelphia Union in 2010, and had a short stint at Puebla in 2013. Orozco signed for Chiapas in 2013, but spent the entirety of his time signed to the club out on loan at Puebla before signing permanently for Tijuana in 2015. Wherever he's been, Klinsmann has called him in repeatedly.

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Born and raised in Mexico to missionary parents from the U.S., Yarbrough's spent his entire youth and professional career in his country of birth. He started his youth career at Gallos de Aguascalientes at just six years old, moving to Pachuca's youth team 10 years later. Yarbrough signed his first professional contract with Pachuca in 2010, spending three years on the club's books before moving on to Leon in 2013 where he remains today, while getting occasional call-ups for the U.S.

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