Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela are two of the notable absentees as Mexico announced a youthful squad -- featuring young star Hirving Lozano -- for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay (Sept. 7 in Houston) and the United States (Sept. 11).
Only five Europe-based players were named, with Andres Guardado, Diego Reyes, Miguel Layun, Nestor Araujo, Jesus "Tecatito" Corona, Hector Herrera and Hector Moreno all missing out along with Hernandez.
MLS-based duo Vela and Giovani dos Santos were also left out by interim coach Ricardo Ferretti, although LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos was included in a squad in which only goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is over the age of 30.
The five Europe-based players involved are Ochoa, Lozano, Oswaldo Alanis, Carlos Salcedo, and Raul Jimenez, all of whom will still be in contention for a place at Qatar 2022.
In all, eight players from the team that reached the Round of 16 at the World Cup will make the trip for for the El Tri's first games since Russia.
There are first call-ups for Santos Laguna trio Jesus Angulo, Gerardo Arteaga and Jose Abella; Cruz Azul's Roberto Alvarado; Club America's 18-year-old forward Diego Lainez and Pachuca's Erick Aguirre.
Former U.S. youth international Jonathan Gonzalez returns after missing out on the World Cup, as do Monterrey's Rodolfo Pizarro, Chivas trio Angel Zaldivar, Orbelin Pineda and Alain Pulido; Pachuca's Victor Guzman; Tigres' Luis "Chaka" Rodriguez and goalkeepers Hugo Gonzalez (Monterrey) and Gibran Lajud (Club Tijuana).
The Mexico squad is due to meet in Mexico City on Sunday and will travel to Houston on Thursday.
The following is the list of the squad:
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa -- Standard Liege (BEL); Hugo Gonzalez -- Necaxa (MEX); Gibran Lajud -- Tijuana (MEX)
Defenders: Carlos Salcedo -- Eintracht Frankfurt (GER); Oswaldo Alanis -- Real Oviedo (ESP); Edson Alvarez -- America (MEX); Jesus Gallardo -- Monterrey (MEX); Jose Abella -- Santos Laguna (MEX); Luis Rodriguez --Tigres (MEX); Jesus Angulo -- Santos Laguna (MEX); Gerardo Arteaga -- Santos Laguna (MEX)
Midfielders: Jonathan Dos Santos -- LA Galaxy (USA); Roberto Alvarado -- Cruz Azul (MEX); Diego Lainez -- America (MEX); Jonathan Gonzalez -- Monterrey MEX); Orbelin Pineda -- Chivas (MEX); Victor Guzman -- Pachuca (MEX); Erick Aguirre -- Pachuca (MEX); Erick Gutierrez -- Pachuca (MEX); Elias Hernandez -- Cruz Azul (MEX)
Forwards: Rodolfo Pizarro -- Monterrey (MEX); Hirving Lozano -- PSV Eindhoven (NED); Raul Jimenez -- Wolverhampton (ENG); Angel Zaldivar -- Chivas (MEX); Alan Pulido -- Chivas (MEX)