Tom Marshall Mexico correspondent 3 Minute Read

MLS' first match: San Jose beat D.C. United with late goal Eric Wynalda's late heroics led San Jose Clash past D.C. United in the inaugural MLS match on April 6, 1996.

San Jose Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda would one day like to manage the United States men's national team if the chance came about.

The Argentine has stated regularly that he would jump at the opportunity to manage his home country or the Mexican national team, but after a full season in MLS with the Quakes, he'd also be interested in coaching the USMNT.

"Obviously I'd love to [manage the USMNT], coaching a national team is the maximum that can happen to a coach ... and above all the United States and Mexico are national teams with a big future," Almeyda told ESPN's Ahora o Nunca.

Almeyda will need to make an impact in MLS, with the Quakes, who missed out on the playoffs on the last day of the regular season.

After gaining experience on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, the former Chivas manager believes that MLS offers players and managers more international exposure than Liga MX.

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"Mexican football isn't shown in Europe, we went with Chivas and I have friends that follow me and if it wasn't for them being my friends they wouldn't have known anything of the history that Mexico has," said Almeyda.

The River Plate legend said that the work done inside Mexico's youth systems to produce players is among the best he's seen, but stressed the amount of foreigners in Liga MX hampers their development.

"The Mexican player until aged 22 is a prospect, from 22 until 26 they are blocked and that's where they lose out football-wise and that has to improve," stated Almeyda. "How do you improve it? Bring fewer foreigners and bring quality ones, like there are, but fewer."

Almeyda also said he believed Sporting Kansas City's Alan Pulido will score more goals than LA Galaxy's Javier Hernandez this season and that Chivas midfielder Fernando Beltran is the best player in Liga MX right now.

San Jose Earthquakes started off the 2020 season with a draw at home to Toronto FC and a 5-2 loss to Minnesota United.