US Men win 2nd in a row with Young players – Face Mexico tonight 10 pm TNT
The Youth movement of the US will get its biggest test after 2 rather easy wins over outmatched opponents last week. With 13 new players including 8 of whom are teenagers this will be their first true litmus test.
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
DEFENDERS (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution), Gio Reyna (RC Strasbourg Alsace), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
FORWARDS (5): Cole Campbell (SV Elversberg); Justin Ellis (Orlando City SC), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Damion Downs
Indy 11 lose 1-0 @ Loundoun United FC Sat 6 pm on ESPN+
Indy Eleven opens the final month of the regular season at Loudoun United FC on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. With four matches remaining, the Boys in Blue are in ninth place in the East with 33 points, with Miami FC holding a tie-breaker advantage (8-7 in conference wins), but Miami has only three games left. The top eight teams in the East after Decision Day on October 24 will compete in the playoffs. According to USL Tactics.com, Indy Eleven has a 74% chance to make the playoffs.
For the sixth consecutive time in their series history, USL Championship Eastern Conference rivals Indy Eleven and Rhode Island FC played a one-goal game, and for the fourth straight meeting the home team prevailed 1-0 in the final mid-week game of 2026 for the Boys in Blue. Indy Eleven got its attack going early with three scoring opportunities in a four-minute stretch. Defender Makel Rasheed started the first sequence in the 11th minute with a long ball right of the box to forward Malik Henry-Scott, who spun out of a defender’s grasp to center it to forward Loïc Mesanvi for a left-footed chance outside the six. Just a minute later, captain Aodhan Quinn, who became the first player in USL Championship history to start 300 regular-season matches, played a long ball on the left side that Henry-Scott headed down to Mesanvi, who played it back to midfielder Josh O’Brien for a blast from outside the area.
Ben’s BBQ Shack near Grand Park has the Best Dang Brisket you can buy in Indiana
TV Schedule
Sat, Oct 3
9 am FS2 Finland vs Albania Nations League
12 noon fubo TV England vs Croatia
2:45 pm FS2 Spain s Czech Republic
4 pm Ion/Tubi Racing Louisville FC vs Utah Royals NWSL
6 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Loundon United
6:30 pm Ion/Tubi KC Current vs Bay FC NWSL
10 pm TNT/HBO USMNT vs Mexico Glendale
Tues, Oct 6
8 pm TNT/HBO USMNT vs Canada Minn
Sat, Oct 10
8 pm TNT. HBO USWNT vs Spain DC
Tues, Oct 13
7 pm TNT, HBO USWNT vs Spain Philly
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USA
Previewing USMNT vs. Mexico: A friendly with everything and nothing to play for
Overshadowed by USMNT’s talented teens, Berhalter is stealing the spotlightCesar Hernandez
It’s not hype: Why Cavan Sullivan is the best prospect the USMNT has ever hadRyan O’Hanlon
U.S. Soccer’s post-World Cup vibes: Lamenting a missed opportunity, embracing excitementJeff Carlisle
Tyler Adams named USMNT captain
USA vs. Chile, 2026 Friendly: Man of the Match
Our first month with an app broke our commenting records
USMNT 4-2 Chile: The USA battles back for a comeback win
What are we doing? The kids are alright, the system isn’t
USWNT roster named ahead of October international window
World
Teen phenom Gil Mora clears injury hurdle, fit for Mexico-U.S. clash
Messi arrives in Argentina for farewell match
👀 Ronaldo’s long history of rows with coaches
Torres forced out of Spain squad; Madrid’s Espí gets 1st call-up
Once a thorn in the USMNT’s side, Rafa Marquez steps into his toughest role yet: Mexico head coach
Italy spoil Zidane’s France homecoming, cancel out Olise’s stunner
22hESPN News Services
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Who is better prepared for 2030 World Cup cycle: USA or Mexico?
Cesar Hernandez Oct 1, 2026, 10:28 AM ET ESPNFC
With the 2026 World Cup in the rearview window, preparations for the new cycle are now fully underway for Concacaf giants Mexico and the United States.
Ahead of their meeting in Phoenix on Saturday in what should once again be an electric clash, it has been noteworthy to see the two different strategies they have deployed in the first international break since the latest World Cup.
For the U.S. and returning coach Mauricio Pochettino, youth is the key. Of Pochettino’s 28 call-ups for the September/October window, a total of 13 — eight of whom are teenagers — entered the international break without a single appearance at the senior international level.
“It’s a completely different approach than it was in the past,” Pochettino said of the squad. “The World Cup is in four years. We need to work with different objectives and goals.”
Editor’s Picks
Overshadowed by USMNT’s talented teens, Berhalter is stealing the spotlight
Cesar Hernandez
It’s not hype: Why Cavan Sullivan is the best prospect the USMNT has ever had
Ryan O’Hanlon
U.S. Soccer’s post-World Cup vibes: Lamenting a missed opportunity, embracing excitement
Jeff Carlisle
With those younger options, the news is so far positive for the U.S. men. Although there have been some expected nervy moments for a handful of fresh faces, Pochettino & Co. have started the international break with two wins: 4-1 vs. Peru and 4-2 vs. Chile. Things have been far from perfect, especially against a Chile side that also hit the woodwork twice, but one can’t argue against the results given that no American players over the age of 30 featured in either game.
Among the top performers were 17-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan, 18-year-old Julian Hall, and 19-year-old Justin Ellis, who all stood out in the final third in their individual starts this window. Praise should also be given to Mathis Albert, who came off the bench this week and became the youngest-ever goal scorer for the U.S. men’s team.
After the victory against Chile, Pochettino was also honest about some of the rocky moments for his youthful roster, noting that it can at times be difficult for a team with several new call-ups to maintain consistency across 90-plus minutes.
“Some players are for the first time together, and that is normal in some periods [of the game] to suffer a little bit,” the coach added.
Looking ahead to the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals next month, the big question now for Pochettino is how many of these young faces will stay in the roster when guaranteed or near-guaranteed members of the XI such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun, among others, make their expected returns.
Cavan Sullivan has impressed in his first call-up to the USMNT, appearing against both Chile and Peru. Joe Puetz/Getty Images
The extent to which the U.S. intends to transition to the next generation of stars remains up in the air, but the current roster and results are major steps forward in justifying a return to many budding talents.
As for Mexico, that question appears to have already been answered for now in their own preparations. Even though there’s a new head coach in charge, with Rafael Marquez taking over the post of Javier Aguirre, the former assistant to Aguirre doesn’t appear to want any significant changes after bringing back a very strong core of experienced players involved in the 2026 World Cup. While the U.S. brought in eight teenagers, Mexico brought in just three.
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“The foundation will be somewhat based on what we saw at the World Cup,” Marquez said last Friday about his first camp. “The style of play will also largely reflect that, given the limited time available to work on things or make changes.
“That said, we will gradually incorporate certain ideas, trying to improve specific defensive and offensive game situations. But ultimately, there won’t be any major changes.”
Part of that foundation is maintaining some of the pragmatic soccer from Aguirre’s tenure. This window, matches have been tight through two back-to-back draws: 1-1 vs. Colombia and 1-1 vs. Peru.
Mexico hasn’t been as high flying as the U.S., but under the guidance of a two-time UEFA Champions League winner and defender such as Marquez, it has looked more conservative — which is both good and bad.
For example, when looking at xG (expected goals), the U.S. has totaled an impressive tally 4.94 over their two friendlies, but also has allowed an xGA (expected goals against) total of 1.92. Looking at Mexico, its xG is just at 1.62 over its two matches, but it also has a respectable xGA of 0.93. It’s a small sample size, but it gives a peek into how both teams are looking in the early days of a new cycle.
This isn’t all to say that Mexico isn’t testing things out. Some might not exactly be the youngest players, but seven members of the latest starting XI vs. Peru were names that weren’t involved in the 2026 World Cup.
And in the conversation of the next generation of teenagers, it could be argued that there is no player from the Concacaf region that has a higher ceiling than 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, who has been a crucial game changer at the international level since 2025. In fact, it was the youngster from Tijuana that was on the front page of numerous Mexican sports papers last weekend after scoring his first international goal, which cemented the draw against Colombia.
Gilberto Mora scored against Colombia, the first goal of what is widely expected to be a glittering international career for Mexico. Brad Smith/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
Nonetheless, he’s the only under-20 player who was given a start for Marquez in his first two games in charge — although there’s a deeper conversation there about the reduced pool of teenage options in a league like Mexico’s Liga MX.
So, who has the better setup so far for the 2030 cycle: Mexico or the U.S.?
Right now, with a wider selection and opportunities for a new generation of players, the U.S. has the higher potential. Huge credit is due to Pochettino for planting seeds with four years to go until 2030, but we’ll see how many of those young players have roles in November when the veterans are expected to return, let alone sprout and grow into elite players.
The route that Marquez is heading down with Mexico isn’t as exciting, but it is safer. Amid the ever-present pressure of the gig, it makes sense that the new coach is drawn to the stability of more practical tactics and squad selection. Depending on how things go, Mora himself could also singlehandedly lift that ceiling, as big European clubs are reportedly interested in his services.
Let’s not forget Canada either, a country that has made the modern-day battle for Concacaf supremacy a three-nation race. The 2024 Copa América semifinalist started its own international break with a 1-0 win over Chile and will face Peru on Oct. 3. On Oct. 6, it will close out the window against the U.S.
But for the U.S., before it faces Canada, Mexico awaits. The result of the friendly won’t be a true and decisive indicator of which soccer federation has the upper hand in World Cup preparation, but it will provide some clues as to the answer.
Italy spoil Zidane’s France homecoming, cancel out Olise’s stunner
- ESPN News Services
Oct 2, 2026, 05:04 PM
Italy once again proved a formidable foe for Zinedine Zidane, securing a 1-1 draw in Zidane’s home debut as France coach Friday.
It looked set to be a joyous homecoming for Zidane at the Stade de France when Michael Olise scored a stunning opening goal in the 55th minute, firing an unstoppable shot from distance off the underside of Gianluigi Donnarumma‘s crossbar.
But a giveaway from Lucas Da Cunha allowed central defender Alessandro Bastoni to run through and clip a low shot inside the right post 13 minutes later. The hosts continued to be denied by an impressive Donnarumma before France’s frustration was compounded late by a red card for defender Dayot Upamecano.
“I’m disappointed for the players because we deserved better,” Zidane said. “We had chances to kill the game off, but we didn’t, and football’s like that sometimes. But it was encouraging. Honestly, I’m proud of how we played.”
Zidane was facing Italy for the first time since his infamous headbutt in the final of the 2006 World Cup, which saw him sent off in extra time in the last game of his stellar career before Italy triumphed in a penalty shootout.
Having led France to the 1998 World Cup title as a player, his arrival as coach has been met with a wave of enthusiasm. A roar of approval greeted Zidane when his name was read out by the stadium announcer ahead of Friday’s game.
Fans at Stade de France then broke out into chants of “Zizou, Zizou” — the affectionate nickname Zidane is known by among French soccer fans — and one banner read “Bienvenue Chez Toi” (Welcome Home).
A train station close to the stadium even had a message waiting for those arriving: “Welcome to Zinedine Zidane’s first game in charge,” a woman said over the public address system.
“It was touching,” Zidane said of the ovation he received. “We would have loved to give the stadium and the whole nation a victory, but it wasn’t to be.”
Zidane, 54, was appointed France coach after the World Cup, replacing Didier Deschamps. Zidane won his first two games 1-0, away to Türkiye and Belgium in the Nations League, with Olise scoring a solo winner against the Belgians.
The Stade de France itself holds special value to Zidane.
He scored the first goal in a friendly against Spain when the stadium was inaugurated in January 1998, and his two powerful headers later that year helped France win the World Cup for the first time with a 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final.
For returning Italy coach Roberto Mancini, a draw at the home of the World Cup semifinalists represents an impressive result as he tries to pick up the pieces from the team’s shocking failure to qualify for the past three World Cups. It was the third game at the helm for Mancini in what is his second spell in charge of the Azzurri, after a 2-0 home loss to Belgium and a 4-1 win at Türkiye.
Zidane, meanwhile, was a visible presence on the sideline in his first home game in charge.
During one first-half attack, he crouched over with his hands on his knees as if trying to get a closer look and then gesticulated with his hands to direct the move — even though his players had their backs to him.
Zidane had said before the game that Italy remain a dangerous side despite poor recent results. Striker Moise Kean missed a close-range chance early for Italy, shooting straight at goalkeeper Mike Maignan from meters out.
Donnarumma made a double save from Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué early in the second half, then produced a brilliant low save to deny Adrien Rabiot moments after Italy’s equalizer.
After Upamecano was sent off late in the game for picking up a second yellow card, Donnarumma superbly clawed away Eduardo Camavinga‘s shot in stoppage time.
France remain atop their Nations League group, a point ahead of Belgium with Italy a further two points back. France host Belgium in their final match of the window Monday, while Italy will welcome Türkiye.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
USMNT vs. Mexico friendly preview: Predictions, odds, must-reads and more as rivalry renews
By Melanie Anzidei, Henry Bushnell and Felipe Cardenas
Oct. 3, 2026 Updated 12:50 pm EDT
Another showdown between the U.S. men’s national team and Mexico is here. Both teams are in Arizona for a Saturday friendly, their first matchup of the 2030 World Cup cycle — and their first since Mexican legend Rafa Márquez took over as head coach of El Tri.
While U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentine, downplayed the rivalry on Friday, Márquez is steeped in it. The former Mexico international told reporters that his players “don’t need reminding” of the significance of the derby.
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“We all know what it means to face the United States, so it’s going to be a very competitive game, just like against Colombia,” Márquez told reporters on Friday. “We’re seeing a very competitive U.S. team, so it should serve what we’re looking to accomplish.”
The age-old rivalry between neighbors dates back to their first game in 1934. Historically, Mexico has had the upper hand. Since 2021, the U.S. has, but Mexico has won the last two — a 2024 friendly and the 2025 Gold Cup final.
For both teams, though, the more relevant context is the present. Both reached the 2026 World Cup’s round of 16 as co-hosts. Both are now starting anew. The U.S., with a dozen newcomers in camp, is fresh off back-to-back wins against Peru (4-1) and Chile (4-2). Mexico is coming off draws with Colombia (1-1) and Peru (1-1). Both see Saturday as a chance to build their new eras — “to build a solid basis,” as Pochettino said.
But the rivalry matters too.
“When you talk about rivalries, whether it’s in Europe in club football or whatever it is, there is a sense of just always wanting to win and compete at the highest level,” newly minted U.S. captain Tyler Adams said. “This is one of those games. It’s gone on for a long time. There’s a lot of history there, and history creates that rivalry. But you just want that winning advantage. So, (you do) anything you can do to win.”
Why USMNT stars are being replaced by teenagers
Henry Bushnell and Lia Griffin
Matchup, schedule and TV details
USMNT vs. Mexico: Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time)
Venue: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
How to watch: TNT (on TV) and HBO Max (streaming) for English broadcast. Telemundo and Universo (on TV) and Peacock (streaming) for Spanish broadcast.
FIFA ranking: United States (16) vs. Mexico (10)
U.S. 2026 World Cup result: Exit in round of 16 (lost 4-1 to Belgium)
Mexico 2026 World Cup result: Exit in round of 16 (lost 3-2 to England)
Next U.S. match: Tuesday, Oct. 6 vs. Canada at 8 p.m. ET
Next Mexico match: Tuesday, Oct. 6 v. Chile at 10:30 p.m. ET
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This game is perfect for …
Bushnell: Cavan Sullivan. Talk to anybody who’s known him or coached him at any stage of his young life, and they’ll tell you he’s made for this type of moment. He loves the spotlight. He’s “fiery” and “fearless,” multiple coaches told The Athletic. Especially if the game opens up while he’s on the field, it’s a perfect stage for him to showcase why he’s one of the most-hyped American soccer prospects ever.
Cardenas: Armando ‘Hormiga’ González. The 23-year-old former Chivas striker is in the running to establish himself as Raúl Jiménez’s successor. He made the move to Europe (Olympiakos) after the World Cup, which raised his profile.
González is a late-bloomer, though, and is just starting his international career. He’s a physical, hard-working center forward who is adored by the Mexican fans. A goal in a winning performance over the U.S. would further cement his popularity.
Cavan Sullivan has shown his ability to take on defenders in his first two USMNT caps.Rich Storry / Getty Images
What they’re saying
– Tyler Adams, the newly minted U.S. captain, on how newcomers might approach their first USMNT-Mexico match: “When you start to gain experience in these games, you understand how to control your emotions a little bit more, understand what the game is asking of you, and how you can have an impact on it. I remember my first game, I was just running around like a madman. I just wanted to have an impact in any way possible. And that’s being 18, 19 years old, not necessarily understanding tactically how disciplined you have to be in these games, emotionally how controlled you need to be in these games.
“But that’s the same thing I’d express to these guys: I’d rather you go into a tackle, and run everywhere, and get around the ball, and be feisty, and have a little tenacity to your game, than sit back and just watch the game go by. So, all these players that have the opportunity to play tomorrow, that’s what we need from them; we need that courage, we need that bravery, we need them to be fearless like they are, so that they can have an impact.”
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– Mexico fullback Mateo Chávez: “Of course we know what this game represents, but we also know it’s a warm-up match, one where continuity for what the coach is building is important. Obviously it’ll have that special flavor that comes with what this game means. These are games you always want to play. We want to win them all and hopefully tomorrow we’ll get a result.”
– Mexico defender Jesús Gallardo: “The truth is, obviously we want to win. It’s a really, really great rivalry, really cool. So it would be really awesome if it were Rafa’s first win, and against the United States.”
Odds
The U.S. is a slight favorite to win the match across a variety of sportsbooks on the eve of the match.
At time of writing, FanDuel lists the U.S. at +145 to win, with Mexico at +170 and a draw at +250. Similarly, DraftKings has the U.S. at +145, Mexico at +175 and a draw at +245. BetMGM tilts the scales slightly more toward Mexico (+165) while still favoring the U.S. (+150; draw at +240).
There’s an expectation of goals, with over 2.5 going off at -118 and the under at -110 on FanDuel; it’s -125/-110 on DraftKings and -120/-115 on BetMGM, meaning a slightly greater likelihood that at least three goals total are scored in the game.
For what it’s worth, the U.S. has scored four in each of its two games this window so far, while Mexico has played to a pair of 1-1 draws.
What is the USMNT looking for from this match?
This match means different things to different people. For half this U.S. roster, it’s a test. Most if not all of the 13 newcomers will be stepping into a match that’s more intense and faster than any they’ve experienced in the past; can they hang? The answer will go a long way toward shaping future USMNT rosters and determining just how optimistic fans should be about this up-and-coming generation.
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For Pochettino, it’s a third chance to get a first win against Mexico. And for the World Cup veterans, well, it’s Mexico. There’s no need for subplots or additional stakes. “Any situation, whenever we play Mexico, whether it’s a qualifier or a friendly, Gold Cup, Nations League, it’s always seen as a must-win game,” defender Antonee Robinson said Thursday. “It feels like a cup final.”
What is Mexico looking for from this match?
The Mexican press has been debating the true significance of this game. The chatter this week has been about whether winning or losing to the U.S. in this particular friendly holds any real meaning.
It always does. It’s an international derby and one that follows a massive World Cup for both countries. However, barring an embarrassing result, this edition of USA vs Mexico shouldn’t determine either national team’s fate.
Mexico, though, will want to stake its claim as the dominant team in the region. Missing Julián Quiñones leaves the door open for another attacking player to potentially establish himself long-term under Márquez.
Rafa Marquez, center, runs Mexico training in his first camp as national team manager.Alfredo Estrella / AFP / Getty Images
Key injuries/absences
The U.S. is missing arguably its three best players, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun. But every notable player in this September-October training camp is healthy and available, as far as we know. All 28 trained Friday.
For Mexico, the key absences are Quiñones and Jiménez. Both players were very good at the World Cup, with Quiñones even being named to the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist, just the second man in Mexico’s history to earn that distinction (Guillermo Ochoa, 2007).
Gilberto Mora, meanwhile, has reportedly been limited in training this week due to an ankle injury, but Márquez said Friday that the record-setting teenager is fit and available for selection. That’s a boon for those who see this match as a glimpse into the future, one that features the top prospects for both sides.
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Staff predictions
Our two reporters who will be at State Farm Stadium on Saturday night have their say:
Henry Bushnell: U.S. 2, Mexico 2. I suspect we’ll see a veteran-heavy U.S. lineup, at least to start. And player for player, I’ll still take this USMNT’s best 11 (or best 15) over Mexico’s. But some of the kids we’ll see in the second half will be overwhelmed by the occasion (and a few already showed vs. Chile that they aren’t quite ready for this level).
Felipe Cardenas: Mexico 3, U.S. 2. Defensive stability was one of the hallmarks of Mexico’s performances at the World Cup this summer. Mexico was stingy again in its 1-1 draw against a nearly full-strength Colombia side on Sept. 26. This U.S. team has not been tested like that during this window.
Márquez played with an experienced back line against Colombia (Israel Reyes, Johan Vázquez, Jesús Gallardo, Jorge Sánchez) and will likely do the same on Saturday night. But there will be goals, and because the U.S. remains susceptible in their own defensive third, I’ll say Mexico has the edge in a high-scoring affair.
Predicted lineups
United States: Diego Kochen; Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Auston Trusty, Peyton Miller; Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Sebastian Berhalter; Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Malik Tillman
Mexico: Raúl Rangel; Jorge Sánchez, Israel Reyes, Johan Vázquez, Jesús Gallardo; Erik Lira, Luis Chávez, Gilberto Mora; Mateo Chávez, Armando González, Roberto Alvarado
Mexico rising star Gilberto Mora has overcome an ankle injury scare to become available for selection.Jamie Sabau / Getty Images
What type of crowd is expected?
State Farm Stadium will be mostly though not entirely full — full of mostly Mexico fans.
When asked Friday about the atmosphere, Pochettino turned to U.S. press officer Michael Kammarman to inquire about the breakdown of fans. “Vamos a ver,” Kammarman told him — “We’ll see.”
Pochettino followed up: “Fifty-fifty?”
“Ooh,” Kammarman responded, and everyone in the room laughed, knowing that the actual makeup would be in Mexico’s favor.
“OK, one-nil down — one-nil down for us,” Pochettino said with a smile.
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Then he got semi-serious and embraced what will likely be a “difficult atmosphere.” He said it would “build our character,” and would be especially useful for a group that blends experienced players with first-timers. “It’s good to have this type of adversity,” Pochettino said. “That for sure is going to help for the future.”
Essential reading
Those closest to the rising U.S. teen star with an “F-you mentality” share stories and tales of how he came to be. Will this match be the first signature moment in his U.S. career?
Speaking of Sullivan, he’s part of the reason why this batch of players could give the U.S.-Mexico rivalry a bit of a kick
Which 2026 World Cup cohost is best-suited going forward?
The U.S. follows its match vs. Mexico with a showdown vs. Canada, which got our writers thinking big-picture about the future of the three 2026 World Cup hosts on the road to 2030
Rafa Marquez steps into the coaching spotlight …
It’s not easy coaching El Tri, even if you’re a legend of the program
… while embracing his past as a U.S.-Mexico villain
Marquez was involved in some of the most heated moments in the history of this rivalry
Neil Pierre somehow has new heights to reach
The 6-foot-7, 18-year-old center back has all the tools to seize a national team role at a position of need
There’s plenty more to come for Julian Hall
Hall is the youngest U.S. player to score in his first two caps, but he’s just getting started
From the ‘Mini Maracanã’ to the USMNT: Adri Mehmeti’s rise
The 17-year-old U.S. midfielder has his game being likened to that of Spanish great Sergio Busquets
Pochettino’s view as the USMNT shows its fight yet again
A game-ending fracas vs. Chile showcased the USMNT’s rage-baiting qualities
The U.S.-Mexico rivalry needs a jolt. From Cavan to Chris Richards, this USMNT can give it one
Tyler Adams pushes Hirving Lozano in the 2024 Concacaf Nations League final between the United States and Mexico. Click Thompson / Getty Images
Oct. 2, 2026 Updated
PHOENIX — There used to be genuine hate, or at least distaste. Whether in Mexico City or Columbus, or even in friendlies, U.S.-Mexico in men’s soccer used to be dramatic and fiery. It was box office, as the kids say, because intensity begat both entertaining games and bust-ups. There was bad blood, literal red blood and red cards.
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“They’re dirty, and they’re nasty, and they spit on you and grab you where they shouldn’t,” U.S. star Landon Donovan said of Mexico’s players in 2004.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, fighting words and consequences became hallmarks of North American soccer’s greatest rivalry.
But as it readies for a renewal on Saturday in Arizona, it needs a jolt.
It needs something or someone to kickstart a new era.
And this new-ish iteration of the USMNT, with leaders eager to scrap and a 17-year-old spark plug sure to join them, might be just the group to awaken it.
It needs a jolt for two main reasons. One is the impact of World Cup expansion on qualifiers. With another 48- or 64-team World Cup looming in 2030, Concacaf has reworked its qualifying format and ditched a final round with a single table. The twice-every-four-year duels that used to define U.S.-Mexico have become relics of the past. The teams will only meet at “neutral” sites in Gold Cups, Nations League finals and friendlies.
And those, over the past four years, have been relatively tame. Since their last qualifier in 2022 — a businesslike 0-0 draw at the Estadio Azteca — matches between the teams have included a forgettable B-team friendly in 2023; a 2024 Nations League final most notable for the homophobic chants that ended it early; a 2024 friendly that Christian Pulisic skipped due to “load management” and other starters missed due to “minor injuries”; and a 2025 Gold Cup final that was fine but not particularly memorable.
Weston McKennie walks away after having his kit ripped during a USA-Mexico scuffle in 2023Louis Grasse / Getty Images
The lone exception was the 2023 Nations League semifinal that featured four red cards and a few iconic images. Weston McKennie pranced around Allegiant Stadium in Vegas kissing the badge on his ripped jersey. Folarin Balogun got hacked down, looked up, “and I just saw a swarm of people fighting,” he recalled. Beer rained down from everywhere.
That felt like U.S.-Mexico.
So did the manic 2021 final in Denver.
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So did the 2021 qualifier in Cincinnati, when Pulisic celebrated his winner by revealing a hand-written “MAN IN THE MIRROR” T-shirt, a shot at pointed comments made that week by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
The games weren’t always spicy, but more often than not, they delivered. And now, without seismic stakes, especially in the shadows of a home World Cup, the onus is on players to inject some spice.
Enter Chris Richards.
Enter Tyler Adams.
Enter Cavan Sullivan.
Enter Sebastian Berhalter.
They are always up for a fight, even in friendlies, as they showed Tuesday night. And they seem to understand, as Berhalter said to TNT, that Mexico “is never a friendly.” So, we have a recipe for fireworks.
Chris Richards (3) set off an altercation between the USMNT and Chile Tuesday night.Joe Puetz / Getty Images
Richards rushed in to confront Chile’s Leandro Hernández on Tuesday after Hernández poked U.S. goalkeeper Brian Schwake with his foot in the waning moments of a 4-2 U.S. win. Benches cleared, as they did last fall when the USMNT scrapped with Paraguay. The brawls have been held up as shining examples of team culture, the “brotherhood,” and the intensity head coach Mauricio Pochettino has encouraged.
When it first emerged at the 2025 Gold Cup, Pochettino raved about it. At one news conference, seated next to Adams, Pochettino said of the combative midfielder: “This guy obviously is going to be involved, because … he likes to fight.” But the mentality had spread. “Now,” Pochettino said, “what we are seeing is, it’s not only him, it’s the whole group.”
Berhalter and Alex Freeman have gotten involved. As a group, they react sharply to defend teammates. Some have also become good at s***housing, or “rage-baiting,” as outgoing captain Tim Ream called it this past summer.
The only thing they’ve lacked, perhaps, is a true heel, a spunky instigator who proactively riles up opponents, either with disrespectful antics or by his mere existence.
And that’s where Sullivan comes in.
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Imagine, for example, if he hopped over a crestfallen Mexican player after scoring a goal, as he did during an MLS Next Pro game in 2024.
Or imagine if he shushed Mexico fans, told them to calm down, and pointed to the name on the back of his jersey, as he did to Morocco fans after converting a penalty at the Under-17 World Cup.
At various youth levels, Sullivan’s audacity on the ball earned him a beating from defenders. His attitude only magnified the target on his back.
“He’s a bold and daring personality,” Tom Heinemann, Sullivan’s former coach with the U.S. U-15 national team, told The Athletic.
And his North Philadelphia upbringing, as the youngest of four brothers, taught him to fight.
“He would square up to opponents that were twice as big as him,” Peter McDonnell, one of Sullivan’s coaches in the Philadelphia Union academy, told The Athletic. “He’s sparky, he’s fiery, he’s in the middle of everything. And he’s not gonna back down from protecting his teammates. It’s just not gonna happen. It’s not part of who he is.”
He is, in other words, the perfect player to ignite a rivalry.
And on Saturday at 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. ET), in front of a pro-Mexico crowd at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., he could get his first of many chances to ignite this one.What You Should Read Next
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He and the USMNT’s other newcomers have also been primed by veterans of the rivalry. They’ve been told to expect something akin to the late-game fracas with Chile, “and a lot more when we play against Mexico,” fullback Antonee Robinson told reporters Thursday.
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Robinson is one of seven members of the current USMNT who’ve experienced a full-blooded U.S.-Mexico match — either the 2023 mess or the 2021 showdowns — first-hand. But no U.S. player has the familiarity or aura of the man who’ll stare them down from the sideline. Rafael Márquez, Mexico’s newly-minted coach, wasn’t just a legendary player; he was a longtime hero and villain in the rivalry — and another ingredient that could spice it up.
Márquez was the one who flew at Cobi Jones in the 2002 World Cup; he was sent off for a challenge that was half kung-fu kick, half headbutt.
Rafael Márquez is sent off at the end of Mexico’s loss to the USMNT in the 2002 World Cup round of 16.Pascal Guyot / AFP / Getty Images
He was red-carded again against the U.S. in 2009 when he went at goalkeeper Tim Howard with studs and an elbow.
But of course, he spent plenty of time on the winning side. He broke the dos a cero Columbus curse with an 89th-minute winner in 2016.
In a way, he embodies what this young USMNT will have to match on Saturday.
“Any situation, whenever we play Mexico, whether it’s a qualifier or a friendly, Gold Cup, Nations League, it’s always seen as a must-win game, it feels like a cup final,” Robinson said. “And we got a lot of boys who’ve never experienced that at this level, who get to see it for the first time. It’s going to be an adverse crowd, and tough conditions to play in. But that’s something we embrace and thrive in.”
Henry Bushnell is a senior writer for The Athletic covering soccer. He previously covered a variety of sports and events, including World Cups and Olympics, for Yahoo Sports. He is based in Washington, D.C.Follow
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Mauricio Pochettino’s changes paid off vs. Japan (Koji Watanabe / Getty Images)
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