The USMNT and Mexico will meet once again as a friendly between the bitter rivals has been arranged for this spring. The two CONCACAF rivals will meet on Wednesday April 19 in Glendale, Arizona is the location in what will be a big test for both ahead of the Gold Cup this summer.
This friendly is part of a new annual tournament called the Allstate Continental Clasico, as a release from U.S. Soccer states that it will see the “USMNT hosting a top-tier opponent from North, Central or South America.”
“We’re incredibly excited to bring the Continental Clásico to our fans in partnership with Allstate,” U.S. Soccer Vice President of Partnership Marketing Kelly Higgins said in a statement.
“The opportunity to build a platform that brings a world-class opponent to the United States each year will be another key step toward making soccer the preeminent sport in our country, and kicking off the event with one of the biggest rivalries in international soccer will no doubt present a unique opportunity for us to engage avid, casual, and multicultural soccer fans alike.”
This game takes place outside of a FIFA international window and it means this no European players in either squad, meaning that the squads of USMNT and Mexico players will largely drawn from the two domestic leagues.
Both nations had contrasting World Cup fortunes as the USMNT unexpectedly reached the last 16 in Qatar, while Mexico narrowly missed out making it out of the group stage.
Both teams now have new coaches with Anthony Hudson in charge of the USMNT on an interim basis, while former Tigres coach Diego Cocca became Mexico’s new boss in February.
The USMNT will be aiming for its 4th straight victory against its archrivals on home soil dating back to 2021, where they beat El Tri 3 times: the 2021 Concacaf Nations League final, the 2021 Gold Cup final, and the home match of World Cup qualifying. The teams last played in March 2022, when they drew in World Cup qualifying at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Having the USMNT and Mexico going over a year without playing each other is pretty rare and with both programs very much in transition, this is going to be a very intriguing match.
