PHOENIX, Ariz. — The success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and the daybreak of a second period beneath coach Mauricio Pochettino — has lifted the United States Men’s National Team’s inventory larger than it has been in years. Severe followers are celebrating the staff’s teenaged expertise; informal followers are turning into its matches with larger frequency than they’re turning into main U.S. sports activities like hockey. All the things, it appears, is shifting in the best path for this new-look USMNT.
And but. Regardless of the excessive profile, regardless of the constructive consideration, regardless of the clear potential of this group, it stays second-best inside its personal continent. Its North American rival Mexico is the present holder of the Gold Cup, the Concacaf Nations League and the Concacaf U-20 championship. It has gained each main North American trophy it has been eligible for previously two years, and it is taken the USMNT down convincingly alongside the way in which.
It has been two-and-a-half years for the reason that USMNT has registered a win over Mexico. Pochettino has did not beat it in two makes an attempt since taking the reins in 2024, and his cumulative report in opposition to it stands at a sobering one objective scored and 4 targets conceded.
If the USMNT’s grand potential goes to translate into grand progress, then it should flip the script in opposition to Mexico. It is going to obtain its first alternative to take action on Saturday, Oct. 3, when it would face el tri in a world pleasant in Glendale, Ariz.
The USMNT enters this Mexico match excessive off of two wins over South American opponents: 4-1 over Peru in Orlando and 4-2 over Chile in St. Louis. Mexico, in the meantime, enters it bereft after two unconvincing 1-1 attracts in opposition to Colombia and Peru.
