[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre cut his World Cup candidates down to 26 players. He has until June 1 to name 23 for the finals.

The Mexico squad included 10 European-based players and 16 who have been training full-time since last month in Mexico City.

The notable absentee is forward Nery Castillo, who plays with Ukrainian club Dnipro.

Mexico plays the first soccer game at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Friday against Ecuador.

Mexico Squad:
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Club America), Luis Michel (Guadalajara), Oscar Perez (Jaguares).
Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Carlos Salcido (PSV), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV), Hector Moreno (AZ), Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Efrain Juarez (UNAM), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (Club America), Jorge Torres (Atlas).
Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Dep. Coruna), Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (UNAM), Pablo Barrera (UNAM), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia).
Forwards: Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray), Guillermo Franco (West Ham), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara).