In the first group match of the Copa América between Mexico and Jamaica, midfielder Alvarrez was stretchered off the field after sustaining an injury. Should Alvarrez’s condition prove too severe to continue, Mexico would be unable to bring in a replacement player according to the tournament regulations.
The Mexican squad’s Copa América campaign got off to a rocky start, as Alvarrez, playing for West Ham, was stretchered off after just 30 minutes. He was subsequently substituted by Luis Romo. Fans are anxiously watching Alvarrez’s recovery; if he misses upcoming games, it will leave Héctor Lozano without a key player.
While the Copa América’s final roster can expand from 23 to 26 players, this flexibility typically benefits teams dealing with injuries. However, once a player like Alvarrez is injured and ruled out, Mexico cannot replace him mid-tournament. According to the rules, such replacements must occur within 24 hours before the team’s first match, which means they cannot fill his spot once play has started.
For Alvarrez, an injury-induced withdrawal would mean spectating or returning to West Ham for treatment, with no changes to Mexico’s lineup. Given that he was stretchered off, it suggests a serious injury may have occurred.