USMNT Set For 70th Edition Of Regional Rivalry With Mexico
Watch USA-Mexico, presented by AT&T, on Friday, Sept. 6 (8:30 p.m. ET; FS1, Univision, TUDN)
CHICAGO (Sept. 5, 2019) – Two months after meeting in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team continues its regional rivalry with Mexico on Friday, Sept. 6 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Coverage of the 70th edition of USA-Mexico, presented by AT&T begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision and TUDN. Fans can also follow along via U.S. Soccer’s official Facebook, Twitter (@USMNT) and Instagram (@USMNT) accounts.
USA DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas; 0/0), Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 60/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 8/0), Zack Steffen (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER; 15/0)
DEFENDERS (9): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 37/3), Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 6/0), Sergiño Dest (Ajax/NED; 0/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 7/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 11/2), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 8/0),) Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 35/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 10/2)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 9/2), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 14/3), Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER; 13/0), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 15/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 19/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 1/0)
FORWARDS (6): Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Tyler Boyd (Besiktas/TUR; 5/2), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 33/5), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 31/13), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 7/2), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 51/10)
BERHALTER CALLS 26 PLAYERS FOR MEXICO, URUGUAY
In the final international window before beginning its Concacaf Nations League campaign, the USMNT will receive stern challenges from the likes of regional rivals Mexico and No.5-ranked Uruguay. Head coach Gregg Berhalter called in a mixed 26-player roster to begin training in New Jersey on Sept. 1. A mix of veterans and youth, the squad features 15 players that finished as runners-up at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, as well as 21 players that have been part of a USMNT camp in 2019. On the flip side, five players are getting their first run with the team in 2019, including first timers Sergiño Dest, Paxton Pomykal and Miles Robinson.
BACK IN THE MIX
A number of familiar faces return to the fold, making their debut appearances since Berhalter took the reins. A veteran of two FIFA World Cups and 60 caps to his credit, goalkeeper Brad Guzan returns to the USMNT for the first time since November 2018. The 34-year-old leads all MLS goalkeepers with 12 clean sheets in 2019. Meantime, Alfredo Morales also returns to the USMNT for the first time since a 3-1 friendly win against Puerto Rico on May 22, 2016. A teammate of Steffen’s in Dusseldorf, the 29-year-old midfielder scored his first goal of the young Bundesliga season in the team’s 3-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Aug. 24.
Also, back from the Bundesliga are 2014 FIFA World Cup veteran John Brooks and Werder Bremen striker Josh Sargent. The 19-year-old attacker is a native of St. Louis and will have a chance to play in front of friends and family against Uruguay.
MOVING UP THE RANKS
Two players from the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup are getting their first sniff at the senior team level, with Berhalter calling on defender Sergiño Dest and midfielder Paxton Pomykal. Joining a long history of children of American servicemen overseas, the Dutch born Dest is earning minutes with the first team at Ajax, last year’s semifinalists in the UEFA Champions League. A product of the FC Dallas Academy, Pomykal has started 20 games in MLS this season, by far the most of his four-year career, tallying two goals and five assists.
2019 USMNT RESULTS/SCHEDULE
|
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Location |
Goal Scorers |
|
Jan. 27 |
vs. Panama |
3-0 W |
Glendale, Ariz. |
Mihailovic, Zimmerman, Ramirez |
|
Feb. 2 |
vs. Costa Rica |
2-0 W |
San Jose, Calif. |
Lletget, Arriola |
|
March 22 |
vs. Ecuador |
1-0 W |
Orlando, Fla. |
Zardes |
|
March 26 |
vs. Chile |
1-1 D |
Houston, Texas |
Pulisic |
|
June 5 |
vs. Jamaica |
0-1 L |
Washington, D.C. |
- |
|
June 9 |
vs. Venezuela |
0-3 L |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
- |
|
June 18 |
vs. Guyana^ |
4-0 W |
St. Paul, Minn. |
Arriola, Boyd (2), Zardes |
|
June 22 |
vs. Trinidad & Tobago^ |
6-0 W |
Cleveland, Ohio |
Long (2), Zardes (2), Pulisic, Arriola |
|
June 26 |
vs. Panama^ |
1-0 W |
Kansas City, Kan. |
Altidore |
|
June 30 |
vs. Curaçao^ |
1-0 W |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
McKennie |
|
July 3 |
vs. Jamaica^ |
3-1 W |
Nashville, Tenn. |
McKennie, Pulisic (2) |
|
July 7 |
vs. Mexico^ |
0-1 L |
Chicago, Ill. |
- |
|
Oct. 11 |
vs. Cuba# |
- |
Washington, D.C. |
- |
|
Oct. 15 |
at Canada# |
- |
Toronto, Canada |
- |
|
Nov. 15 |
vs. Canada# |
- |
TBD |
- |
|
Nov. 19 |
vs. Cuba# |
- |
Georgetown, Cayman Island |
- |
|
^ -indicates Concacaf Gold Cup; #-indicates Concacaf Nations League |
||||
USA-MEXICO NOTES
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The USA and Mexico meet for the 70th time on Friday – the most matches between any two Concacaf opponents.
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While the USMNT trails the all-time series dating back to 1934 with a 19-35-15 mark, the last two decades have tipped the scales. Since 2000, the USA holds a 14-8-6 record.
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The most memorable and highest-stakes match between the sides came in the Round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup when the U.S. used goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan to earn a 2-0 victory.
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The most recent meeting occurred just over two months ago when Jonathan dos Santos found the lone goal to give Mexico a 1-0 victory in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Final on July 7 at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
USA ROSTER NOTES
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As of Sept. 1, the roster has an average age of 25 years, 47 days and 15 caps.
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Twenty-one players have been part of at least one camp in 2019.
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The roster features 15 players from the USA’s runner-up squad at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.
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A veteran of two FIFA World Cups and 60 caps to his credit, goalkeeper Brad Guzan returns to the USMNT for the first time since November 2018. The 34-year-old leads all MLS goalkeepers with 12 clean sheets in 2019.
-
Alfredo Morales also returns to the USMNT for the first time since a 3-1 friendly win against Puerto Rico on May 22, 2016. The 29-year-old midfielder scored his first goal of the season for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the team’s 3-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Aug. 24.
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Part of the U.S. team that that ran to the quarterfinals of this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, defender Sergiño Dest and midfielder Paxton Pomykal join Atlanta United FC center back Miles Robinson in their first USMNT camps.
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The trio joins goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez in looking for their first caps during the September camp.
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Dest is the third player born in the new millennium to be called to a USMNT camp, following Josh Sargent and Tim Weah.
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Now a Chelsea player, attacker Christian Pulisic has collected two assists in four competitive appearances for the English Premier League side this season.
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Having bagged 11 goals for Columbus Crew SC in 2019, forward Gyasi Zardes tops the MLS goal scoring chart among U.S.-based players.
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Eight players are age-eligible for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo: Cannon, Dest, McKennie, Pomykal, Pulisic, Robinson, Sargent and Yueill.
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15 players have previous experience against Mexico, with 10 having played against El Trí in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Final.
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Forward Jordan Morris is the only player on the roster to have scored against Mexico, tallying his first international goal in a 2-0 win on April 15, 2015 in San Antonio.
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Goalkeeper Sean Johnson (New York City FC) and defender Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls) will have the chance to represent the National Team nearby where they play their club ball at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sept. 6.
MEXICO ROSTER BY POSITION:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Rodolfo Cota (Club León; 2/0), Hugo Gonzalez (Necaxa; 2/0), Guillermo Ochoa (Club America; 107/0), Jonathan Orozco (Santos Laguna; 8/0)
DEFENDERS (10): Néstor Araujo (Celta Vigo/ESP; 34/3), Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey; 41/0), Miguel Layún (Monterrey; 71/6), Héctor Moreno (Al-Gharafa; 101/4), César Montes (Monterrey; 9/0), Fernando Navarro (Club León; 2/1), Diego Reyes (Tigres UANL; 64/2), Luis Rodríguez (Tigres UANL; 17/1), Carlos Salcedo (Tigres UANL; 32/0), Jorge Sánchez (Club America; 2/0)
MIDFIELDERS (12): Roberto Alvarado (Cruz Azul; 14/2), Uriel Antuna (LA Galaxy/USA; 8/4), Edson Álvarez (Club América; 28/1), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy/USA; 46/3), Marco Fabián (Philadelphia Union; 42/9), Andrés Guardado (Real Betis/ESP; 161/28), Érick Gutiérrez (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 17/0), Hector Herrera (Atlético Madrid/ESP; 70/5), Luis Montes (Club León; 25/5), Orbelín Pineda (Cruz Azul; 18/1), Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey; 22/4), Carlos Rodriguez (Monterrey; 8/0)
FORWARDS (5): Jesús Manuel Corona (Porto/POR; 40/7), Javier Hernández (Sevilla FC/ESP; 108/51), Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG; 78/22), Hirving Lozano (Napoli/ITA; 35/9), Alexis Vega (Guadalajara; 5/1)
IN FOCUS: MEXICO
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Mexico sits 12th in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking.
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El Trí is coached by former Argentina, Paraguay and FC Barcelona manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino. Prior to taking over as Mexico head coach in January, Martino led Atlanta United FC – featuring USMNT goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Miles Robinson -- to the 2018 MLS Cup.
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Mexico’s 31-player roster includes all 23 players that were part of the 2019 Gold Cup team, as well as high-profile attacking additions Javier Hernandez (Sevilla), Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (Napoli) and Jesús Manuel Corona (Porto).
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Eighteen players on the roster are based in Mexico, followed by Spain (4), USA (3), Netherlands (2), England, Italy, Portugal and Qatar (1 each).
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Mexico midfielders Jonathan dos Santos and Uriel Antuna are teammates with USMNT midfielder Sebastian Lletget at the LA Galaxy. Philadelphia Union defender Marco Fabian also features on the roster.