The rivalry between the USA and Mexico in men’s soccer? It’s not just heated, it’s a full-blown inferno, and the USMNT just defended their CONCACAF Nations League title in 2024, capping an insane eight-match unbeaten streak against their fiercest rival. That run, stretching back to fall 2019, was pure dominance. But El Tri said “hold my cerveza,” slamming the brakes on that party with a 2-0 friendly defeat in Guadalajara last October, and then delivered another gut punch in the 2025 Gold Cup final. So, what’s really going on with North America’s top soccer rivalry?
From Decades of Pain to Regional Powerhouses
Mexico still commands the all-time head-to-head results, racking up 38 wins to the USA’s 24, with 17 draws sprinkled in there. And yeah, for good reason. Our guys actually won the very first meeting way back in 1934, but then they hit a brick wall. A 46-year brick wall! The USMNT went a mind-boggling 46 years without another win against Mexico until a World Cup qualifying victory in 1980. Think about that: almost five decades of getting stomped. That horrific run included 24 winless matches against El Tri, with 21 of those being straight-up defeats. Ouch.
But since that breakthrough in 1980, everything changed. The United States soccer program grew up, big time, transforming into a true CONCACAF regional powerhouse. That’s when this rivalry truly became one of the most electric matchups on the globe. We’re talking about a complete flip of the script. Since 1980, the USMNT has 23 wins to Mexico’s 13, with 14 draws. Since 2000, it’s 19 wins for the USA, 10 for Mexico, 8 draws. And even just since 2010, the USA holds a 9-6-6 record over El Tri. When you see guys like our own Sounders Cristian Roldan, who just got called up to the USMNT, or Jordan Morris out there repping the Emerald City on the national stage, you know they’re part of that modern legacy, fighting for every inch against Mexico.
The Battle For Bragging Rights Is Wild Right Now
While the USMNT has enjoyed a strong run over Mexico this past decade, things have gotten a little spicy in the most recent matches. That incredible eight-match unbeaten run we mentioned, which ended with that 2-0 friendly loss in Guadalajara last October? Yeah, that one hurt. And then, to add insult to injury, a five-match competitive unbeaten streak was snapped when Mexico clinched the 2025 Gold Cup final with a 2-1 victory in Houston. So, while we’ve been dominant for a while, El Tri is definitely pushing back.
Looking at the full picture since 2010, the USA has won eight times, drawn five, and tasted defeat seven times against Mexico. It’s a close fight. Mexico definitely snagged some big ones in recent memory, like the 2019 Gold Cup and the 2015 CONCACAF Cup against us. They even got a World Cup qualifying win on U.S. soil in 2016. But let’s not forget our boys have delivered some epic moments too, with huge victories in the 2021 Gold Cup, the 2021 Nations League finals, and that most recent 2024 Nations League finals triumph. Plus, we fought to a tough World Cup qualifying draw at the Estadio Azteca in March 2022. The stakes are always through the roof, with seven of the last nine matches being official competitions, not just glorified scrimmages.
Now, with another international friendly on the horizon this weekend, the question on everyone’s mind is: who’s going to seize control? Can the USMNT reclaim their recent momentum, or will El Tri double down on their recent resurgence? Our Sounders like Roldan and Morris have been part of this journey, and you know they’ll be watching closely as the next chapter of this incredible rivalry unfolds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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