Venezuela coach Cesar Farias has called-up seven foreign-based players in the 24-man squad to play two friendlies against Mexico and Costa Rica.

Atlante striker Giancarlo Maldonado, Las Palmas forward Salomon Rondon and Hamburg midfielder Tomas Rincon are highlights in the squad, so too are Columbus Crew attacker Alejandro Moreno and Salamanca forward Nicolas 'Miku' Fedor.

The other overseas-based players in the list are Cagliari defender Rafael Acosta and Colombia's Santa Fe midfielder Luis Manuel Seijas.

The Vinotinto players meet in Puerto La Cruz later today before flying to Atlanta on Sunday for the meeting with Mexico.

The match at the Georgia Dome will be played on June 24, three days before the Costa Rica friendly in Tibas.

Venezuela still have an outside chance of reaching the World Cup as they lie in eighth in the South American Qualifying Zone with 17 points, three below Uruguay who lie in fifth, which is a play-off position.

Venezuela squad: Virgilio Pinero (Guaros), Rafael Romo (Llaneros); Carlos Salazar (Aragua), Jose Jesus Yeguez, Pedro Boada, Grendy Perozo, Francisco Fajardo (all Deportivo Anzoategui), Francisco Flores (Guaros), Henry Pernia (Llaneros), Pablo Camacho (Deportivo Italia), Rafael Acosta (Cagliari); Giacomo Di Giorgi (Deportivo Anzoategui), Marlon Fernandez, Mauricio Parra, Gerzon Chacon (all Deportivo Tachira), Louis Pena (Estudiantes), Luis Manuel Seijas (Santa Fe), Tomas Rincon (Hamburg); Adrian Lezama (Deportivo Anzoategui), Victor Perez (Llaneros), Alejandro Moreno (Columbus Crew), Giancarlo Maldonado (Atlante), Salomon Rondon (Las Palmas), Nicolas Fedor (Salamanca).