Report: David Ochoa Requests Change Of Association To Mexico

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake goalkeeper David Ochoa has reportedly requested a change of association to Mexico, Doug McIntyre from Fox Sports has reported.

David Ochoa, the @realsaltlake keeper who repped the #USMNT during Olympic qualifying and backed up Zack Steffen and Ethan Horvath in the Nations League in June, is requesting a change of association to Mexico, multiple sources tell @FOXSports.

— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) August 2, 2021

Ochoa, 20, recently spent a week training with El Tri before their Gold Cup campaign. A month earlier, he spent three weeks traveling Europe and the United States with the USMNT and spent time on the bench for friendlies against Switzerland and Costa Rica while also being present on the Nations League semi-final and final bench against Honduras and Mexico.

El Tri, Forever

Both of Ochoa’s parents are Mexican, however, he was born in Oxnard, California which allowed him to choose which country he would like to represent on the international stage.

The decision to join El Tri over the USMNT does not come as a surprise. The USMNT starting goalkeeper is Manchester City backup Zack Steffen with Nottingham Forrest goalkeeper Ethan Horvath acting as the backup.

During the most recent successful Gold Cup campaign, New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner excelled and was rewarded by being named the Man of the Match for the 1-0 victory in the final against Mexico on Sunday evening.

However, for El Tri, their number one goalkeeper is long-time veteran Memo Ochoa who turned 36 last month. Ochoa has a realistic chance of becoming the backup with the most recent announcement and could find himself the starting goalkeeper for Mexico sooner rather than later.

Ochoa is yet to publicly announce the change of heart but is expected to announce the decision shortly.