World Cup 2022: North American Rivals Slug It Out for Qatar

Mexico vs USA

World Cup 2022 qualifying is hotting up, but even if it wasn’t, this would be no less a fixture.

For two major North American rivals are set to lock horns this week, and with places in Qatar up for grabs, it should be as competitive as ever.

Historically, Mexico have been one of the strongest teams in the region, qualifying for the past seven World Cups and 16 overall.

The USA have not fared so well, but with both teams sitting on 21 points after 11 games in the CONCACAF table – the US are in second place with a better goal difference than third-placed Mexico – and the top three teams set to clinch automatic berths, the scene is set for World Cup 2022 highlights.

Talking Points

Certainly, both nations can afford one slip-up as they hold healthy leads over chasers Panama and Costa Rica (the fourth-place team will participate in an intercontinental playoff in June).

But there will be no room for complacency to give their rivals hope.

Mexico have named a 29-man roster but are without several important players who are injured, including long-time captain and midfielder Andres Guardado, forward Rogelio Funes Mori and defenders Julio Dominguez and Osvaldo Rodriguez.

El Trí will certainly miss the leadership and experience of Guardado, who is the country’s second all-time capped player with 173 appearances.

Raul Jimenez wants Mexico to win their World Cup 2022 fixture against United States — Raul Jimenez of Mexico controls the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying match

Still, six key players from European clubs are expected to play vital roles – defenders Edson Alvarez (Ajax) and Nestor Araujo (Celta Vigo), midfielder Héctor Herrera (Atletico Madrid) and forwards Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Jesús Corona (Sevilla), Hirving Lozano (Napoli).

Meanwhile, US coach Gregg Berhalter has selected 27 players for the final three qualifiers.

The Americans will be missing several key players themselves for this contest, including full-back Sergino Dest, who suffered a hamstring injury in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory last week over Galatasaray in the Europa League. Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie is also out with a foot fracture.

Berhalter has a youthful group with many players going through a qualifying cycle for the first time. And with two of their final three fixtures on the road – where the American have struggled, winning only one of their previous five matches – Mexico may just have the advantage and added incentive to gain a modicum of revenge for the pain the US inflicted on them in 2021.

History

The first time these two rivals met, the US prevailed in a winner-takes-all qualifier in Rome, just days before the start of the 1934 World Cup in Italy.

On that occasion, Aldo Donelli scored all four goals in a 4-2 American win.

That was a rare Stateside success with Mexico dominating the fixture largely until the mid-1990s when the USA started to prevail on a more regular basis.

In the first qualifying tournament for the 1950 World Cup, Mexico won both games in Mexico City, 6-0 and 6-2. That started a 31-year run in Mexico WCQ dominance over the USA in which their rivals to the south forged a 12-0-3 record.

Since 1980, the Americans have more than held their own at home but not fared so well in Mexico with 12 defeats in 15 qualifiers from 1949 onwards.

World Cup

Portugal

Turkey

CLICK HERE

TO SEE UPDATED ODDS

Three draws have arrived recently to stem the tide, including a 1-1 draw in 2017 when USA captain Michael Bradley fired them ahead before Carlos Vela levelled.

Overall, Mexico have 38 successes, the USA have enjoyed 23 triumphs and there have been 14 draws.

The US enjoyed three victories over Mexico in six months last year.

Christian Pulisic and McKennie scored the goals in Cincinnati in the earlier World Cup qualifying fixture but their big clash came in the final of the Gold Cup, courtesy of Miles Robinson’s 118^th-minute winner.

Certainly, they have shown they can beat their rivals when it counts and have more than gained revenge for their 2019 Gold Cup defeat.

Mexico last defeated the USA in a friendly in 2019, when they won 3-0 before a crowd of 48,000 in New Jersey.