Twenty-five years ago, Saturday’s soccer clash between the Mexican and U.S. national teams would have been somewhat of a foregone conclusion.
Mexico was miles ahead of its northern neighbor in its professional league, coaching and talent pool.
A quarter-century later, Team USA are considered favorites whenever they play Mexico on home soil.
The progress of soccer in the United States has been fueled by impressive displays at World Cups and the development of Major League Soccer (MLS), whose level still lags behind Europe and South America but is attracting a large fan base and has huge growth potential, most analysts agree.
Mexico’s army of passionate fans may lament the truth that the United States has caught up with El Tri in the one sport they traditionally ruled the roost. That said, the leveling of the playing field has created a rivalry in soccer that is as fierce as any Brazil-Argentina or England-Germany confrontation.
“Games against Mexico are just special,” U.S. midfielder Bradley said in a recent interview. “They’re all different and they’re all special. Whether you win or lose, score or don’t score, there’s just something about them.”
After Team USA’s dismal showing in July’s Gold Cup tournament (which Mexico won, beating Jamaica), the importance of Saturday’s CONCACAF Cup Final at the Los Angeles Rose Bowl is not lost on players, pundits and fans. If the United States defeats Mexico, it books itself a trip to Russia for the 2017 Confederations Cup, a tournament of top nations that the World Cup hosts put on each summer a year before the international soccer tournament.
Defeat for the United States would trigger plenty of soul searching and put German coach Jurgen Klinsman under intense pressure. A reversal for Mexico would be a blow to national pride but less consequential, since the team currently only has an interim coach, with a new one – Juan Carlos Osorio of Colombia – waiting in the wings.
The CONCACAF Cup between Mexico and the United States will be shown on free-to-air networks (Azteca and Televisa) in Mexico on Saturday, October 10, 8:30 p.m., as well as some cable channels.