Mexico–United States soccer rivalry

Mexico–United States soccer rivalry

Locale	North America (CONCACAF)
Teams	Mexico USA
First meeting	May 24, 1934 Stadio Nazionale Rome, Italy (Mexico 2–4 USA)
Latest meeting	October 10, 2015 Rose Bowl Pasadena, California, USA (Mexico 3–2 USA, a.e.t)
Statistics
Meetings total	66
Most wins	Mexico (34)
All-time series	34–19–13 (Mexico)
Largest victory	August 25, 1975 (Mexico 8–0 USA)

A sports rivalry exists between the national soccer teams of Mexico and the United States, widely considered the two major powers of CONCACAF. Matches between the two nations often attract much media attention, public interest and comment in both countries. The first match was played in 1934, and the teams have met 65 times, with Mexico leading the overall series 33–18–14 (W–L–D), outscoring the U.S. 131–75. However, since the 1990s, tides began to change due to a rapid growth of soccer in the United States. During this decade, Mexico continued to hold an edge over their arch-rivals but since the 2000s the series has favored the U.S. 13–6–5 (W–L–D).

History

Origin

The first match between the two sides was a qualifying match in Italy for the final ticket to the 1934 World Cup. Where soccer was seen as a foreign sport in the United States, in Mexico, like many Latin American nations, it was embraced from the start as part of their culture. The U.S. had established a professional league in 1921, but it had folded in 1933. The final score was United States 4–2 Mexico. Three years later, Mexico began a winning streak over the U.S. in friendlies 7–2, 7–3, and 5–1 in Mexico City.

Recent years

The rivalry continues to play out most often in annual friendlies, usually scheduled during the early months in U.S. cities with large Mexican American 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.

On a global scale, Mexico leads the series 33–19, with almost the double of goals to the US (131–75). 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.

Prior to 2012, Mexico had never lost to the United States at home and now owns a 23–1–2 (W–L–T) record on their native soil. Mexico has won in the United States seven times, compiling a record of 7–13–9 (W–L–T). The overall Mexican record in the U.S., however, does not reflect the current competitive nature of the series. Since their 1999 win in the U.S. Cup, Mexico has been 2–9–3 on U.S. soil.

To date, only two players, Martin Vasquez and Edgar Castillo have played for both nations. Castillo, who was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, debuted with the Mexican side in August 2007 under then manager Hugo Sánchez of which whom was also part of the 2008 CONCACAF Men Pre-Olympic Tournament. Castillo played his first game for the United States, a friendly against Denmark in 2009.

In the 21st century, the rivalry added a new chapter with the nickname Dos a Cero (2–0) to U.S. fans. Starting in 2001 during the qualifying cycle for the 2002 World Cup, the U.S. hosted Mexico in Columbus, Ohio at the Columbus Crew Stadium. The first meeting between Mexico and the United States ended in a 2–0 win for the U.S. Following the victory, the U.S. hosted Mexico at Crew Stadium again in 2005, 2009, and 2013 for World Cup Qualifiers (2006, 2010, and 2014 qualifying cycles). Each time these teams met in Columbus, the U.S. has come out with a 2–0 win. Following the September 10, 2013 game the U.S. clinched a World Cup berth following a Panama-Honduras 2–2 draw. Their meeting in the round of 16 of the 2002 World Cup also ended in a U.S. win by the same score.^[1]

Incidents

Prior to an Olympic qualifying game in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, on February 10, 2004, former U.S. player Landon Donovan reportedly urinated on the pitch during practice, according to Mexican media, which angered Mexican fans and media outlets.^[2] Subsequent video showed Donovan actually urinated near some bushes outside the practice areas. Two days later, on February 12, 2004, Mexico defeated the U.S. 4–0, and the crowd was heard chanting "Osama, Osama, Osama", in reference to Osama bin Laden and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.^[3]

In a friendly held in Glendale, Arizona on February 7, 2007, Landon Donovan scored in injury time to give the U.S. a 2–0 lead and win over Mexico. After the goal, Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez tried to trip former U.S. player Eddie Johnson as Johnson was running to celebrate the goal with Donovan. No contact was made, and no reprimand resulted.^[4]

On February 11, 2009, the first qualifier for the 2010 World Cup was held in Columbus Crew Stadium, and resulted in a 2–0 victory for the U.S. against Mexico. After the game, Frankie Hejduk was involved in an altercation with Mexican assistant coach Francisco "Paco" Javier Ramírez, who slapped Hejduk in the tunnels as both teams headed to the locker room.^[5] Hejduk did not retaliate, and Ramirez was not reprimanded.

Games

Date	Location	Competition	Result	Attendance
May 24, 1934	Stadio Nazionale, Rome, Italy	1934 FIFA World Cup Qualifier	4–2	10,000
Sep 12, 1937	Parque Asturias, Mexico City, D.F.	Friendly	7–2	21,000
Sep 19, 1937	Parque Necaxa, Mexico City, D.F.	Friendly	7–3	22,000
Sep 26, 1937	Parque España, Mexico City, D.F.	Friendly	5–1
Jul 13, 1947	Estadio Tropical, Havana, Cuba	1947 NAFC Championship	5–0
Sep 4, 1949	Estadio de los Deportes, Mexico City, D.F.	1949 NAFC Championship[n 1]	6–0	60,000
Sep 18, 1949	Estadio de los Deportes, Mexico City, D.F.	1949 NAFC Championship[n 1]	6–2	54,500
Jan 10, 1954	Estadio de los Deportes, Mexico City, D.F.	1954 FIFA World Cup qualifier	4–0	60,000
Jan. 14, 1954	Estadio de los Deportes, Mexico City, D.F.	1954 FIFA World Cup qualifier	3–1	40,000
Apr 7, 1957	Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City, D.F.	1958 FIFA World Cup qualifier	6–0	75,000
Apr 28, 1957	Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach, California, California	1958 FIFA World Cup qualifier	7–2	12,500
Nov 6, 1960	Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California	1962 FIFA World Cup qualifier	3–3	8,000
Nov 13, 1960	Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City, D.F.	1962 FIFA World Cup qualifier	3–0	80,000
Mar 7, 1965	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California	1966 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–2	19,337
Mar 12, 1965	Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City, D.F.	1966 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–0	64,285
Sep 3, 1972	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	1974 FIFA World Cup qualifier	3–1	29,891
Sep 10, 1972	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California	1974 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–1	9,620
Oct 16, 1973	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	Friendly	2–0	14,000
Sep 5, 1974	Estadio Universitario, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León	Friendly	3–1	25,000
Sep 8, 1974	Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas	Friendly	1–0	22,164
Aug 24, 1975	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	Friendly	2–0
Oct 3, 1976	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California	1978 FIFA World Cup qualifier	0–0	31,171
Oct 15, 1976	Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla, Puebla	1978 FIFA World Cup qualifier	3–0	35,000
Sep 27, 1977	Estadio Universitario, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León	Friendly	3–0	20,000
Nov 9, 1980	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier	5–1	90,000
Nov 23, 1980	Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida	1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–1	2,126
Oct 17, 1984	Estadio Neza 86, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México	Friendly	2–1
May 10, 1990	Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada	1990 North American Nations Cup	1–0
Mar 12, 1991	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California	1991 North American Nations Cup	2–2
Jul 5, 1991	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California	1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal	2–0	41,103
Jul 25, 1993	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup final	4–0	120,000
Oct 13, 1993	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.	Friendly	1–1	23,927
Jun 4, 1994	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California	Friendly	1–0	91,123
Jun 18, 1995	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.	1995 U.S. Cup	4–0	38,615
Jul 17, 1995	Estadio Parque Artigas, Paysandú, Uruguay	1995 Copa America Quarterfinal	0–0 (4–1) PK	15,000
Jun 16, 1996	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California	1996 U.S. Cup	2–2	92,216
Jan 19, 1997	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California	1997 U.S. Cup	2–0	31,725
Apr 20, 1997	Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts	1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–2	57,877
Nov 2, 1997	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier	0–0	115,000
Feb 15, 1998	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California	1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup final	1–0	91,255
Mar 13, 1999	Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California	1999 U.S. Cup	2–1	50,234
Aug 1, 1999	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	1999 FIFA Confederations Cup semifinal	1–0 aet (0–0)	65,000
Jun 11, 2000	Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey	2000 U.S. Cup	3–0	45,008
Oct 25, 2000	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California	Friendly	2–0	61,072
Feb 28, 2001	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–0	24,329
Jul 1, 2001	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier	1–0	110,000
Apr 3, 2002	Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado	Friendly	1–0	48,476
Jun 17, 2002	Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea	2002 FIFA World Cup Round Of 16	2–0	36,380
May 8, 2003	Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas	Friendly	0–0	69,582
Apr 28, 2004	Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas	Friendly	1–0	45,048
Mar 27, 2005	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–1	110,000
Sep 3, 2005	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–0	24,685
Feb 7, 2007	University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona	Friendly	2–0	62,462
Jun 24, 2007	Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois	2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final	2–1	60,000
Feb 6, 2008	Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas	Friendly	2–2	70,103
Feb 11, 2009	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–0	23,776
Jul 26, 2009	Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey	2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final	5–0	79,156
Aug 12, 2009	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–1	110,000
Jun 25, 2011	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California	2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final	4–2	93,420
Aug 10, 2011	Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Friendly	1–1	30,138
Aug 15, 2012	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	Friendly	1–0	56,000
Mar 26, 2013	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, D.F.	2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier	0–0	85,500
Sep 10, 2013	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio	2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier	2–0	24,584
Apr 2, 2014	University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona	Friendly	2–2	59,066
Apr 15, 2015	Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas	Friendly	2–0	64,369
Oct 10, 2015	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California	2015 CONCACAF Cup	3–2	93,420

Statistics

Matches	For Mexico	Draw	For USA	Goals
66	34	13	19	MEX 131 / USA 75

*no longer played

Women's soccer

The rivalry is less hostile in women's soccer but still important. Most games have been played on U.S. soil. However, games have been played between both teams in Mexico as well; including one at Estadio Azteca in 1999 which ended 0–0. Another was played during the 2008 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship at Puebla, Mexico, where the U.S. U-20 defeated the Mexico U-20 3–0. The Mexican women's team has only defeated the U.S. twice; once at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil, where Mexico won 3–2 after being down 2 goals. The other time was the 2010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup semifinal, where they won 2–1. This win got the Mexican women to their second Women's World Cup. While the match at the Pan American Games is not considered official by both associations and FIFA, the match at the Gold Cup is official.

In popular culture

A 2012 documentary, Gringos at the Gate / Ahi Vienen Los Gringos, written and directed by Pablo Miralles, Roberto Donati, and Michael Whalen,^[6] focuses on the cultural differences between the United States and Mexico when it comes to soccer. This includes the conflict of Mexican-American players in the U.S. while their family might support Mexico.^[7]

Notes

References

External links

• Archive of U.S. national team results 1885-1979
• Archive of U.S. national team results 1980-
• Gringos at the Gate Documentary film about the US and Mexico soccer rivalry