USA vs. MEXICO
(U.S. Cup) March 13 (3:30 pm ET) at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif. (Television: ABC live)
HISTORY Mexico ranks fifth in World Cup appearances, with 11, but only 16th in overall World Cup success. Quarterfinal appearances as host in 1970 and 1986 remain its greatest accomplishments. Despite good reviews for its France ’98 performance, Mexico still struggles to shed its image as a big fish in the small pond that is the CONCACAF region, though Copa America participation has helped Mexico’s international reputation. It finished runner-up in 1993 and third place in 1995. That Mexico’s league is the best-paying in the Western Hemisphere is both a boost and a disservice to the national team. It can attracts creditable foreign talent that raises the level for Mexican players, but it also prevents Mexican players from moving — and staying — abroad. German Villa, who was signed by Spain’s Espanyol after France ’98, is the latest to fail abroad. He returned within a year, and Hugo Sanchez remains the only Mexican to excel in Europe.
Last 11 internationals | June 3, 1998 — 0-0 Saudi Arabia (friendly) |
| June 13, 1998 — 3-1 South Korea (France ’98) |
| June 20, 1998 — 2-2 Belgium (France ’98) |
| June 25, 1998 — 2-2 Netherlands (France ’98) |
| June 29, 1998 — 1-2 Germany (France ’98) |
| Nov. 17, 1998 — 2-0 El Salvador (friendly) |
| Nov. 18, 1998 — 2-2 Guatemala (friendly) (Guatemala won 5-3 on penalties.) |
| Feb. 10, 1999 — 0-1 Argentina (friendly) |
| Feb. 16, 1999 — 0-0 Hong Kong (Carlsberg Cup) (Mexico won 4-3 on penalties.) |
| Feb. 19, 1999 — 3-0 Egypt (Carlsberg Cup) |
| March 11, 1999 — 2-1 Bolivia (U.S. Cup ’99 in Los Angeles) |
U.S. SERIES After starting the series with a win, the U.S. waited almost six decades before making this a competitive rivarly.
USA-Mexico matches | May 24, 1934 — USA 4-2 (World Cup qual.) in Rome. |
| Sept. 12, 1937 — Mexico 7-2 (friendly) in Mexico City. |
| Sept. 19, 1937 — Mexico 7-3 (friendly) in Mexico City. |
| Sept. 26, 1937 — Mexico 5-1 (friendly) in Mexico City. |
| July 13, 1947 — Mexico 5-0 (friendly) in Havana, Cuba. |
| Sept. 4, 1949 — Mexico 6-0 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| Sept. 18, 1949 — Mexico 6-2 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| Jan. 10, 1954 — Mexico 4-0 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| Jan. 14, 1954 — Mexico 3-1 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| April 7, 1957 — Mexico 6-0 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| April 28, 1957 — Mexico 7-2 (World Cup qual.) in Long Beach. |
| Nov. 6, 1960 — 3-3 tie (World Cup qual.) in Los Angeles. |
| Nov. 13, 1960 — Mexico 3-0 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| March 7, 1965 — 2-2 tie (World Cup qual.) in Los Angeles. |
| March 12, 1965 — Mexico 2-0 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| Sept. 3, 1972 — Mexico 3-1 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| Sept. 10, 1972 — Mexico 2-1 (World Cup qual.) in Los Angeles. |
| Oct. 16, 1973 — Mexico 2-0 (friendly) in Puebla, Mexico. |
| Sept. 5, 1974 — Mexico 3-1 (friendly) in Monterry. |
| Sept. 8, 1974 — Mexico 1-0 (friendly) in Dallas. |
| Aug. 25, 1975 — Mexico 2-0 (friendly) in Mexico City. |
| Oct. 3, 1976 — 0-0 tie (World Cup qual.) in Los Angeles. |
| Oct. 15, 1976 — Mexico 3-0 (World Cup qual.) in Puebla. |
| Sept. 27, 1977 — Mexico 3-0 (friendly) in Monterrey. |
| Nov. 9, 1980 — Mexico 5-1 (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| Nov. 23, 1980 — USA 2-1 (World Cup qual.) in Ft. Lauderdale. |
| Oct. 17, 1984 — Mexico 2-1 (friendly) in Mexico City. |
| March 12, 1991 — 2-2 tie (friendly) in Los Angeles. |
| July 5, 1991 — USA 2-0 (Gold Cup) in Los Angeles. |
| July 25, 1993 — Mexico 4-0 (Gold Cup) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Oct. 13, 1993 — 1-1 tie (friendly) in Washington, D.C. |
| June 4, 1994 — USA 1-0 (friendly) Pasadena, Calif. |
| June 18, 1995 — USA 4-0 (U.S. Cup) Washington, D.C. |
| July 17, 1995 — 0-0 tie (Copa America) Paysandu, Uruguay (USA won 4-1 on penalty kicks.) |
| June 16, 1996 — 2-2 tie (U.S. Cup) Pasadena, Calif. |
| Jan. 19, 1997 — Mexico 2-0 (U.S. Cup) in Pasadena, Calif. |
| April 20, 1997– 2-2 tie (World Cup qual.) in Foxboro, Mass. |
| Nov. 2, 1997 — 0-0 tie (World Cup qual.) in Mexico City. |
| Feb. 15, 1998 — Mexico 1-0 (Gold Cup) in Los Angeles, Calif. |
ò Mexico leads series 25 wins, 5 losses, 9 ties.
ROSTER Goalkeepers — Oscar Perez (Cruz Azul), Adolfo Rios (Necaxa), Jorge Campos (UNAM).
Defenders — Joaquin Beltran (UNAM), Salvador Cabrera (Toluca), Salvador Carmona (Toluca), Pavel Pardo (UAG), Claudio Suarez (Guadalajara), Miguel Zepeda (Atlas), Joel Sanchez (Guadalajara).
Midfielders — Rafael Garcia (Toluca), Raul Rodrigo Lara (Club America), German Villa (Club America), Paulo Cesar Chavez (Guadalajara), Ramon Ramirez (Club America), Alberto Garcia Aspe (Club America).
Strikers — Jose Manuel Abundis (Toluca), Luis Hernandez (Tigres), Francisco Palencia (Cruz Azul), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Club America), Ricardo Pelaez (Guadalajara).
