Mexico–United States soccer rivalry
The United States and Mexico football rivalry is a competitive sports rivalry between the national association football teams of Mexico and the United States of America, the two major powers of the CONCACAF federation. The Mexicans lead in the all-time series standings, but the Americans have had more success in recent years, especially on home soil.
This rivalry probably got started in the qualifying match in Mussolini's Italy. There was one last ticket to qualify for in the 1934 World Cup. The month long voyage that both Mexico and the United States embarked on, all the way to Italy, was approached a little differently. In the Mexican ship, the Mexican players rarely did any exercise. Overconfident, the Mexicans felt that the United States could be superior in many aspects to Mexico but not in soccer. Although Mexican football was nominally amateur at the time, and no national league existed until 1943, Mexico had well-established local leagues throughout the country that were professional in all but name. On the other hand, the US had established a professional league in 1921, but it had folded in 1933. As a result, the Mexican players arrived in Italy overweighted and overconfident about an "easy" win. In the meantime, the American delegation approached the month long journey to Italy very differently. American players were exercising and training aboard the ship. When they got to Italy, they were in much better shape than the Mexicans. The final score was United States 4, Mexico 2. Mexico was sent back home, humiliated and without a World Cup ticket. However Mexico got there revenge 3 years later, defeating the US in a friendly 7-2 in Mexico City.
The rivalry continues to play out most often in annual friendlies, usually scheduled during the early months in U.S. cities with large Mexican immigrant populations such as Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, and Chicago. The most important matchups take place in quadrennial World Cup qualification matches and major tournaments such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa América.
Mexico has never lost to the United States at home, owning a 22-0-1 (W-L-T) record on native soil. Mexico has won in the United States six times, compiling a record of 6-13-9 (W-L-T). The Mexican record in the US, however, does not reflect the current competitive nature of the series—El Tri have not won north of the border since 1999.
On neutral territory, the United States leads the series 3-2. In addition, the lone World Cup finals match between the two countries, a knockout, Round of 16 meeting at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Jeonju, South Korea, resulted in a 2-0 victory for the United States. It was Deja vu, for Mexico again, bringing back memories from 1934 in Rome.
To date, only one player, Martin Vasquez, has played for both nations.
The most recent match, a World Cup Qualifier, was held on February 11, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. The USA won by a score of 2-0, with Michael Bradley scoring both goals. They will meet in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on July 26 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, followed by the return match in World Cup qualifying on August 12, 2009 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Games
| Date | Location | Competition | Result |
| May 24, 1934 |  Italy
|
1934 FIFA World Cup qualifier |  United States 4–2
|
| Sep 12, 1937 |  Mexico City, D.F.
|
Friendly | Mexico 7–2
|
| Sep 19, 1937 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
Friendly | Mexico 7–3
|
| Sep 26, 1937 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
Friendly | Mexico 5–1
|
| Jul 13, 1947 |  Havana, Cuba
|
1947 NAFC Championship | Mexico 5–0
|
| Sep 4, 1949 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1949 NAFC Championship § | Mexico 6–0
|
| Sep 18, 1949 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1949 NAFC Championship § | Mexico 6–2
|
| Jan 10, 1954 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1954 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 4–0
|
| Jan. 14, 1954 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1954 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 3–1
|
| Apr 7, 1957 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1958 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 6–0
|
| Apr 28, 1957 | Los Angeles, California
|
1958 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 7–2
|
| Nov 6, 1960 |  Los Angeles, California
|
1962 FIFA World Cup qualifier | 3–3 |
| Nov 13, 1960 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1962 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 3–0
|
| Mar 7, 1965 | Los Angeles, California
|
1966 FIFA World Cup qualifier | 2–2 |
| Mar 12, 1965 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1966 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 2–0
|
| Sep 3, 1972 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1974 FIFA World Cup qualifier |  Mexico 3–1
|
| Sep 10, 1972 | Los Angeles, California
|
1974 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 2–1
|
| Oct 16, 1973 | Puebla, Puebla
|
Friendly | Mexico 2–0
|
| Sep 5, 1974 | Monterrey, Nuevo León
|
Friendly | Mexico 3–1
|
| Sep 8, 1974 | Dallas, Texas
|
Friendly | Mexico 1–0
|
| Aug 24, 1975 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
Friendly | Mexico 2–0
|
| Oct 3, 1976 | Los Angeles, California
|
1978 FIFA World Cup qualifier | 0–0 |
| Oct 15, 1976 | Puebla, Puebla
|
1978 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 3–0
|
| Sep 27, 1977 | Monterrey, Nuevo León
|
Friendly | Mexico 3–0
|
| Nov 9, 1980 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 5–1
|
| Nov 23, 1980 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
|
1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier | United States 2–1
|
| Oct 17, 1984 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
Friendly | Mexico 2–1
|
| May 10, 1990 |  Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
|
1990 North American Nations Cup | Mexico 1–0
|
| Mar 12, 1991 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
|
1991 North American Nations Cup | 2–2 |
| Jul 5, 1991 | Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
|
1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal | United States 2–0
|
| Jul 25, 1993 | Mexico City, D.F.
|
1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup final | Mexico 4–0
|
| Oct 13, 1993 | RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
|
Friendly | 1–1 |
| Jun 4, 1994 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
|
Friendly | United States 1–0
|
| Jun 18, 1995 | RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
|
1995 U.S. Cup | United States 4–0
|
| Jul 17, 1995 |  Estadio Parque Artigas, Paysandú, Uruguay
|
Copa America quarterfinal | United States 0–0 (4–1 PSO)
|
| Jun 16, 1996 | Los Angeles, California
|
Friendly | 2–2 |
| Jan 19, 1997 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
|
1997 U.S. Cup | Mexico 2–0
|
| Apr 20, 1997 | Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
|
1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier | 2–2 |
| Nov 2, 1997 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.
|
1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier | 0–0 |
| Feb 15, 1998 | Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
|
1998 CONCACF Gold Cup final | Mexico 1–0
|
| Mar 13, 1999 | Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
|
1999 U.S. Cup | Mexico 2–1
|
| Aug 1, 1999 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.
|
1999 FIFA Confederations Cup semifinal | Mexico 1–0 aet (0–0)
|
| Jun 11, 2000 | Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
|
2000 U.S. Cup | United States 3–0
|
| Oct 25, 2000 | Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
|
Friendly | United States 2–0
|
| Feb 28, 2001 | Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
|
2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier | United States 2–0
|
| Jul 1, 2001 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.
|
2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 1–0
|
| Apr 3, 2002 | Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
|
Friendly | United States 1–0
|
| Jun 17, 2002 |  Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea
|
2002 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 | United States 2–0
|
| May 8, 2003 | Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
|
Friendly | 0–0 |
| Apr 28, 2004 | Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
|
Friendly | United States 1–0
|
| Mar 27, 2005 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.
|
2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier | Mexico 2–1
|
| Sep 3, 2005 | Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
|
2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier | United States 2–0
|
| Feb 7, 2007 | University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
|
Friendly | United States 2–0
|
| Jun 24, 2007 | Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
|
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final | United States 2–1
|
| Feb 6, 2008 | Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
|
Friendly | 2–2 |
| Feb 11, 2009 | Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
|
2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier | United States 2–0
|
| Jul 26, 2009 | Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
|
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final | Mexico 5-0
|
| Aug 12, 2009 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.
|
2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier | To be played |
- Notes
- § Matches were also used as qualifiers for the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Games statistics
| Matches | For Mexico | Draw | For USA | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 30 | 10 | 16 | MEX 124 / USA 70[1]
|