United States men's national soccer team Concacaf World Cup qualifier vs. Mexico: Everything you need to know
It’s getting down to the wire.
The three final World Cup qualifiers begin Thursday night when the U.S. men's national soccer team takes on Mexico. The Americans will know within a week whether they’re on their way to the World Cup in Qatar later this year — or whether they’re in for an even harsher self-examination than they had four years ago.
By failing to qualify for the World Cup in Russia, the USMNT ushered in what is, without question, the most talented generation the team has ever seen. There are Americans playing, and starting, on top rosters throughout Europe. There is depth at nearly every position.
The USMNT also beat archrival Mexico three times in a calendar year last year for the first time, with two of the wins earning them tournament titles.
“I think it’s a mindset now,” said Christian Pulisic, one of the few holdovers from the last World Cup cycle. “We’re a confident bunch of guys, and we can go into any game thinking we can win.”
There is thinking it and there is doing it, however.
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Here’s what you need to know for Thursday night’s game in Mexico City:
What time is the USMNT-Mexico game?
Kickoff is at 10 p.m. ET.
What channel is the USMNT-Mexico game on?
CBS Sports Network, Univision and TUDN will carry the game.
Can I livestream the game?
Yes, on Paramount+. The game also is available on fuboTV.
Is the USMNT at full strength?
No. Midfielder Weston McKennie, who has been the USMNT’s best player throughout qualifying, is out with a broken foot. Forward Brenden Aaronson, the only player to play in all 11 qualifiers, was a late scratch with a knee injury. Starting right back Sergiño Dest and Matt Turner, who has been battling Zack Steffen to be the No. 1 goalkeeper, are also out.
“You don’t always have all your guys and it’s how you respond when you don’t have your guys that’s important,” coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Everyone we have on this roster right now, all 26 of them, can compete. And that’s what it’s going to take this window.”
And the news isn’t all bad. The USMNT has Gio Reyna back for the first time since he injured his hamstring against El Salvador in September. Reyna will be on limited minutes throughout the window, but is a threat anytime he’s on the field. As Mexico well knows after he scored in the Nations League final.
Pulisic is also back in top form, with three goals and an assist in his last six appearances for Chelsea. Two of those goals came in Champions League play.
“I’m in good rhythm, I feel that I’m in good form,” Pulisic said Wednesday.
What’s at stake in USMNT-Mexico?
Everything and nothing.
There is an outside chance the U.S. men could qualify for the World Cup if they beat Mexico. But the USMNT also would need Panama to lose and Los Canaleros are playing Honduras, which has yet to win a game in the Octagonal.
The more likely chance for the Americans to qualify comes Sunday night, when they host Panama in Orlando. Still, a victory or even a draw against Mexico would get the USMNT that much closer to Qatar.
Plus, every game against the USMNT's main rival is a big deal.
What are the USMNT’s chances of beating Mexico?
Honestly, not great. The altitude, smog and raucous crowd make Azteca a tough place for anyone to play, and the USMNT has never won a World Cup qualifier there. In fact, the Americans have just one win ever there, a friendly back in 2012.
“Our record here is horrendous,” Berhalter acknowledged. “The odds are against us getting something out of this game. We know that, we realize that. That’s just how it is.”
That said, the USMNT has managed to scratch out a point from each of its last two World Cup qualifiers in Mexico City. And Azteca hasn’t been quite so fearsome of late. El Tri needed a late goal to beat Jamaica at home in September, then drew against Canada in October.
It also tied Costa Rica in January in a game that was essentially played behind closed doors.
The Americans are on a good run against Mexico, too, winning all three of their meetings last year, including November’s qualifier in Cincinnati.
“We know it’s not going to be easy. We’ve got the better of them the last couple of games but that means nothing,” said Pulisic, who has two goals against El Tri, including the game-winner in November. “We’re going to need another top performance, and to continue to do the things we have been doing in the past games against them.”
What’s this about closed doors?
FIFA made Mexico play its last two qualifiers without fans as punishment for El Tri supporters’ persistent use of a homophobic slur. Capacity for Thursday night’s game will be limited to 50,000 people as the Mexican federation tries out a new ID system that it hopes will finally put an end to the offensive chant.
What comes next?
The USMNT returns to the States for the game against Panama in Orlando on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, on FS1) before traveling to Costa Rica for the final qualifier next Wednesday (9:05 p.m. ET, on Paramount+).
Which players are on the USMNT and Mexico rosters?
USMNT roster
Goalkeepers (3): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/England), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Zack Steffen (Manchester City/England),
Defenders (9): George Bello (Arminia Bielefeld/Germany), Reggie Cannon (Boavista/Portugal), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes/France), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/England), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), James Sands (Rangers/Scotland), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Midfielders (6): Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/Germany), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/Italy), Luca de la Torre (Heracles/Netherlands), Yunus Musah (Valencia/Spain), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
Forwards (9): Brenden Aaronson* (Red Bull Salzburg/Austria), Paul Arriola (FC Dallas), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Jordan Pefok (Young Boys/Switzerland), Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg/Germany), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/Germany), Tim Weah (Lille/France)
* Aaronson has been ruled out of the USMNT's last three World Cup qualifiers due to a knee injury.
Mexico roster
Goalkeepers (4): Guillermo Ochoa (Club America), Rodolfo Cota (Leon), Alfredo Talavera (Pumas), Jonathan Orozco (Club Tijuana)
Defenders (10): Julián Araujo (Los Angeles Galaxy/USA), Néstor Araujo (Celta Vigo/Spain), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk/Belgium), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), César Montes (Monterrey), Hector Moreno (Monterrey), Jorge Sánchez (Club America), Johan Vásquez (Genoa/Italy), Jesús Alberto Angulo (Tigres), Israel Reyes (Puebla)
Midfielders (6): Edson Álvarez (Ajax/Netherlands), Érick Gutiérrez (PSV/Netherlands), Héctor Herrera (Atletico Madrid/Spain), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Monterrey), Érick Aguirre (Monterrey)
Forwards (9): Diego Lainez (Real Betis/Spain), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Jesus Corona (Sevilla/Spain), Santiago Gimenez (Cruz Azul), Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton/England), Hirving Lozano (Napoli/Italy), Henry Martin (Club America), Alexis Vega (Chivas), Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey)