Another year, another mid-winter tour of the United States for the Mexican national team.
The FMF and Soccer United Marketing announced on Tuesday that El Tri will head north of the border for a pair of friendlies early in 2012. The first is scheduled for Jan. 25 at Houston’s Reliant Stadium against current CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying co-leaders Venezuela.
La Vinotinto, who finished fourth in this past summer’s Copa América, held Mexico to a 1-1 draw in the teams’ last meeting, which came in March at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.
Mexico and Venezuela have faced off 10 times, with El Tri holding a 8-2-0 advantage.
The second friendly will take place a month later, and it’s a leap year special. Mexico will face Colombia on Feb. 29 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami in a match presented by AT&T. Colombia, who are coached by former MLS star Leonel Álvarez, are currently sixth in CONMEBOL qualifying, but have a game in hand.
The match will mark the 28th meeting between the two sides, with Mexico holding a 12-9-6 edge in all-time results.
Both matches will be used by Mexican head coach José Manuel de la Torre as preparation for the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign, which kicks off on June 8 against Guyana.
