TEMPE, Ariz. – "1-0 down for us," U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino said Friday, more than 24 hours before the referee will blow the opening whistle of their game against Mexico. "We start, for sure, 1-0 down, but it's good." It was hardly in anticipation of Saturday's scoreline as much as it was a reflection of the circumstances that await. The USMNT's storied rivalry with Mexico returns on Saturday for its 80th edition in 90-plus years, a clash that is always defined by its intensity no matter the context.
The upcoming edition is technically a friendly but long before Pochettino rebranded those as "non-official games," mild-mannered meetings were not an option when the USMNT would face Mexico. The U.S. team has competed well, sometimes famously so, but the rivalry is Mexico's -- they have won 38 times, most recently in last year's Concacaf Gold Cup final. They also pack stadiums in Mexico and the U.S. on the regular, to the point that there is no surprise that El Tri fans will outnumber USMNT supporters on Saturday, the crowd composition the source of the deficit Pochettino spoke of.
Naturally and most importantly, there is no love lost between the sides. "These games, I feel like it's real culture and the real passion of football," defender Sergino Dest said Thursday. "The rivalries between teams in general are always amazing to see, and this is one of them as well.
Playing with America against Mexico is one of the best games here and it's going to be a tough game. Sometimes there will be fights, sometimes there won't but we play on home soil, so we gotta show our passion." Date: Saturday, Oct. 3 | Time: 10 p.m. ETLocation: State Farm Stadium -- Glendale, Ariz.TV: TNT | Live stream: HBO MaxOdds: USMNT +145; Draw +250; Mexico +170 As the teams convene in the Phoenix area, though, that dislike is secondary to some.
The USMNT and Mexico are in the midst of a generational shift, the hosts traversing the U.S. this fall with 12 players who are brand new to the senior national team. The purpose of this mega-sized international break, according to Pochettino, is simply to familiarize a group of newcomers to the routines and demands of international soccer with little pressure to perform, a World Cup as far away as it gets. He reiterated that stance on Friday, even knowing that the USMNT's rivalry with Mexico only comes with pressure.
"What I expect for tomorrow is the same intensity that the team showed against Peru and Chile," he said. "The message from the beginning was enjoy, give your best and to play not because of the opponent; it's because of ourselves. It's defending our shirt.
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