TEMPE, Arizona — For any team, particularly in soccer, traveling for games in challenging environments is just part of the sport’s reality.
Home-field advantage is a significant factor, which can be tough for away teams. This has certainly been true for the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) when facing Mexico, their biggest rival. Despite having some successes against El Tri in the past 25 years—including a memorable 2-0 victory that took the Americans to the quarterfinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup—the U.S. has yet to secure a win in competitive matches on Mexican soil since their first encounter there nearly eight decades ago.
On Saturday, the U.S. will play Mexico in a friendly just outside of Phoenix. Even though it’s technically a home game for the Stars and Stripes, most of the anticipated 60,000 fans at State Farm Stadium in Glendale are expected to support the visiting team.
“It’s going to be a hostile crowd and challenging conditions,” veteran U.S. defender Antonee Robinson stated. “But we welcome that.”
This is certainly the right mindset to have.
It’s been nearly two years since the U.S. last played outside of the country. With the USA qualifying automatically as a co-host for the 2026 World Cup, the team didn’t have to endure the trials of regional qualifying matches in tough locations such as Port-of-Spain, San Pedro Sula, or Mexico City.
However, things will be different ahead of the 2030 World Cup, as Concacaf’s lengthy two-year qualifying tournament starts next year. Saturday’s match will help prepare the U.S. squad for these upcoming challenges.
“It’s a valuable chance for us to experience that environment,” said coach Mauricio Pochettino during a press conference, noting that if the atmosphere is similar to the 2025 Gold Cup final, where the U.S. narrowly lost to Mexico amid a sea of green jerseys, it will feel like starting with a “1-nil” deficit.
“Playing in a tough atmosphere will undoubtedly benefit us for the future,” he added.
The U.S. kicked off this World Cup cycle with impressive multi-goal victories over South American teams Peru and Chile. Pochettino introduced several young players in those matches, initially suggesting he might lean toward more experienced lineups for the next challenges.
But given the youngsters’ strong performances—including goals from teenagers Mathis Albert, Justin Ellis, and Julian Hall—it’s clear they won’t be intimidated if called up again against Mexico or Canada. After facing El Tri, the U.S. will conclude their run with another matchup against Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Tomorrow will be similar to the games against Peru or Chile,” Pochettino mentioned. “We aim to find a good balance between seasoned players and those less experienced on the international stage.”
Despite this, the intensity of facing El Tri is likely to be unlike anything the newcomers have encountered before.
“There’s a lot of dislike and rivalry,” said Tyler Adams, who has been named the new captain, taking over from the retired Tim Ream.
“For us, playing Mexico—be it a qualifier or a friendly—is always perceived as a must-win game,” Robinson shared. “It feels like a cup final, particularly for those teammates who have never experienced that at this level.”
Considering the performance of the new generation, they appear ready to rise to the occasion.
“There have been many matches where the crowd has mainly supported Mexico. Some teams might buckle under that kind of pressure,” Robinson continued. “But we thrive on that kind of adversity. We enjoy the feeling of scoring and having beers thrown at us; it’s exhilarating.”
Fan Take: This rivalry is not just about soccer; it embodies the passionate competition between two nations. For fans, seeing how the young U.S. team handles this intense atmosphere could be a turning point that significantly impacts the future of soccer in the country.
Source: www.foxsports.com
