The Mexican men's national team will replace interim manager Luis Fernando Tena with former Monterrey coach Victor Manuel Vucetich two days following Mexico's 2-0 loss to the United States in World Cup qualifying, according to multiple reports.
The reported appointment of Vucetich will be the second managerial switch in less than a week for El Tri. Tena took over as Mexico coach on Saturday hours after an embarrassing 2-1 home loss to Honduras in World Cup qualifying ended the two-year tenure of Jose Manuel de la Torre.
The United States (5-2-1) moved into first place in the North and Central American and Caribbean finals with 16 points, one ahead of Costa Rica (4-1-3), which was held to a 1-1 tie at last-place Jamaica and also clinched.
Honduras (3-3-2) is third with 11 points and on track for the region's final automatic berth for the 32-nation field for Brazil next June. Panama moved ahead of Mexico (both 1-2-5) on goals scored for fourth place, which advances to a playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand.
Mexico is in danger of missing the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Its remaining games next month are home against Panama and at Costa Rica.
Altogether, Mexico has scored only four goals in the North and Central American and Caribbean finals this year, dropping into fifth place in the group of six countries. The most likely, and even upbeat, scenario is that the team heads to a playoff against New Zealand to qualify for the world tournament.
El Tri will reportedly hold a press conference to announce the move on Thursday.
The Associated Press was used in this report.
