MEXICO CITY, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tigres UANL center-back Hugo Ayala has been drafted into Mexico's squad for friendlies against Uruguay and the United States, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said on Saturday.

The 31-year-old replaces midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, who has been ruled out because of an ankle injury.

Mexico will face Uruguay in Houston on September 7 and the US in Nashville four days later.

Brazil-born Ricardo Ferretti was last week named as Mexico's coach as the FMF seeks a permanent replacement for Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, who departed after the World Cup in July.

El Tri were eliminated in the round of 16 in Russia, the seventh consecutive time they have stumbled in the World Cup's first knockout stage.?