Osorio chooses squad for Mexico's World Cup qualifiers; Rafa Marquez out

Mexico's latest squad features some notable exclusions.

On Thursday, the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol announced the 25 footballers called up by manager Juan Carlos Osorio for Mexico's 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Panama and Costa Rica on Sept. 1 and Sept. 5, respectively.

Among those missing from the squad is Rafa Marquez, who was targeted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for having a longstanding relationship with Raul Flores Hernandez, identified as a drug kingpin. The footballer is among 22 Mexican nationals and 43 entities that have been designated as providing support to narcotics-trafficking activities. He's yet to play for Atlas since being identified.

Marquez, who is 38 years old and looking to captain Mexico at the World Cup for a fifth time, has categorically denied the accusation.

"I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to speak with Rafa Marquez," Osorio said at a news conference, according to ESPN FC's Tom Marshall. "We know that he's in a difficult situation."

A more surprising omission was Miguel Layun, who played only 13 minutes in FC Porto's first three games of the Primeira Liga season, and who's reportedly on RCD Espanyol's radar. Also excluded were Oribe Peralta, Carlos Salcedo, Luis Reyes, Rodolfo Pizarro, and Paul Aguilar. It's worth noting that the squad doesn't contain a single full-back, meaning Edson Alvarez and Jesus Duenas might be asked to play out of position.

Mexico is atop The Hex, boasting four victories and two draws from six games. Victories over Panama and Costa Rica would confirm El Tri's place at the 2018 World Cup.

Here's Mexico's squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona, Rodolfo Cota, Guillermo Ochoa

Defenders: Edson Alvarez, Nestor Araujo, Hugo Ayala, Hector Moreno, Jair Pereira, Diego Reyes, Jesus Gallardo

Midfielders: Jonathan Dos Santos, Jesus Duenas, Andres Guardado, Erick Gutierrez, Hector Herrera, Orbelin Pineda, Giovani Dos Santos

Forwards: Carlos Vela, Javier Aquino, Jesus M. Corona, Jurgen Damm, Elias Hernandez, Javier Hernandez, Raul Jimenez, Hirving Lozano