Sporting KC’s Pulido to represent Mexico in two upcoming international friendlies

Sporting Kansas City striker Alan Pulido will be away from the club for a while as he represents his country in international play.

Pulido has been selected to the Mexican Men’s National Team for two upcoming matches in the Netherlands, the Mexican Football Federation announced earlier this week.

Pulido will join a 26-player squad assembled by head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino for international friendlies against the Netherlands on Oct. 7 in Amsterdam and Algeria on Oct. 13 in The Hague.

Pulido, who joined Sporting Kansas City last December on a club-record transfer fee from Chivas de Guadalajara, has recorded five goals in 13 career caps for Mexico. He notably represented his country at the 2011 Copa America and 2014 World Cup and last played for El Tri in September 2018.

Following the friendly match against Algeria, Pulido will adhere to mandated health and safety protocols in accordance with international travel before rejoining Sporting Kansas City later this month for the final stretch of the MLS regular season.

Now in his first MLS season, Pulido has played an integral role for a Sporting Kansas City side that occupies third place in the Western Conference. The forward is tied atop the club scoring chart with six goals in all competitions, including a brace in Saturday’s 2-1 road victory over the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium. He also has a team-leading four assists, three of which came this summer at the historic MLS is Back Tournament in Walt Disney World. In Pulido’s nine regular season starts, Sporting owns a 6-2-1 record with an average of 2.2 goals per game.