USA vs. Mexico 2024 preview: key players, predictions, more

Prepare for an thrilling new chapter of the United States vs. Mexico rivalry!

With recent coaching changes bringing a high-profile determine in Mauricio Pochettino to the U.S. males’s nationwide crew, and a extra tried and true veteran in Javier Aguirre to Mexico’s males’s facet, each applications could have an opportunity to achieve an early milestone after they meet Tuesday for a pleasant.

Lengthy gone are the previous coaches who just lately did not impress on the Copa América. It is now The Aguirre and Pochettino Present for Concacaf’s two largest giants, and they are going to be desirous to make their mark towards each other.

Tuesday’s match at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron is not nearly regional superiority both. With a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to construct one thing forward of the 2026 World Cup that their international locations will co-host, the upcoming pleasant can even show what path they’re paving.

ESPN brings you every part you should know in regards to the conflict, with crew evaluation, predictions, key gamers and extra from former Mexico worldwide Jared Borgetti alongside specialists Cesar Hernandez, Daniel Rodríguez, Omar Flores and Lizzy Becherano.

---

Each groups are in reset mode proper now. What led them up to now?

Like Mexico, there have been few positives for the U.S. to level to for the reason that 2022 World Cup. With the aim of showcasing that they are not only a large fish in a Concacaf-sized pond, the USMNT has struggled towards elite groups, notably in the summertime’s disastrous early exit from the Copa América. A few winless friendlies heading into the match additionally foreshadowed doom for the USMNT.

There isn’t any lack of promising expertise throughout the roster, however there was additionally little proof that earlier coach Gregg Berhalter was the appropriate individual to assist elevate each the gamers and total construction, which have a excessive ceiling. — Cesar Hernandez

A collection of dangerous choices and poor outcomes. It is superb how in Mexico they might make the issues worse every time and, after group stage elimination on the 2022 World Cup, managers, coaches and gamers have since proven that it may very well be even worse.

With the USA, it hasn’t been very totally different. Regardless that it has vital gamers at Europe, the fact is that it hasn’t been in a position to make a mission work the appropriate manner after fixed teaching modifications, issues past the pitch and with out the appropriate course of to develop as a nationwide crew. — Daniel Rodriguez

This modification of coaches for United States and Mexico reveals that they wish to do issues otherwise. Each groups really feel that they’ve stagnated and that with the gamers they’ve, they maybe ought to have achieved higher issues in current tournaments.

Mexico is bringing a coach (Aguirre) who already is aware of what it is wish to be there, who is aware of the Mexican soccer gamers properly and who has helped them obtain vital issues up to now. The U.S. is betting on a world coach who has had a superb profession as a participant and supervisor. With the vast majority of every crew’s gamers in Europe, the wager is sort of fascinating for each side. — Jared Borgetti

What are the strengths and weaknesses of every crew going into this recreation?

It was a small window by way of only one recreation, however there was so much to get pleasure from in regards to the fluid motion of the USMNT assault that had a harmful participant like Christian Pulisic (who will miss this pleasant to rejoin his membership facet AC Milan) dictating issues as a artful winger who tucked inside. Alongside him, Brenden Aaronson had some temporary moments of magic, as did aim scorers Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi.

When weaknesses, it could take a while for the USMNT to fine-tune its defensive transition. Pochettino and his males have been fortunate to haven’t allowed a aim in his debut match vs. Panama, who sometimes launched ahead and requested critical questions of the backline. — Hernandez

El Tri’s energy is crew play. The squad identifies with the coach, and that can translate to its play on the sector. The weaknesses? Properly, I feel that for the time being Mexico is experiencing a insecurity after poor outcomes. It has to get the followers concerned rapidly and channel that assist. I feel that is vital as a result of the followers have distanced themselves from the nationwide crew’s matches, and the crew wants them now greater than ever. — Borgetti

Mexico’s primary energy is on the defensive facet. César Montes and Johan Vásquez have performed collectively for the reason that under-23s, they usually have already received a bronze medal. They’ve additionally been essentially the most common duo in recent times.

Mexico’s primary weak spot is on the opposite facet of the sector with the strikers. As managers, Diego Cocca, Jaime Lozano and Javier Aguirre have tried with totally different gamers to handle the shortage of a prime scorer. Throughout Copa América, Mexico scored just one aim within the matches towards Venezuela and Ecuador. It’s anticipated that, with the return of Raúl Jiménez, this drawback can be fastened. — Omar Flores

Who’re the gamers to look at for every crew?

For the U.S., the artful and intelligent Pulisic is the straightforward reply, though U.S. Soccer introduced Sunday that he’ll be leaving camp early. Marlon Fossey, Weston McKennie, Zack Steffen and Pepi can even return to their golf equipment.

Wanting elsewhere, Mexico should discover a solution to stifle an brisk fullback/wingback like Antonee Robinson. The Fulham participant coated an immense quantity of floor on the left flank towards Panama and offered a key cross that helped result in a aim, all whereas with the ability to dash again and halt counters.

It is early days, however in Poch’s fluid tactical setup that may transfer between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-3, Robinson is a useful cog. — Hernandez

I feel it would not must be one particularly, as a result of we do not have somebody who is basically going to catapult us into success. We have not had a participant who carries the crew for some time. The vital factor is that the group grasps the thought of what it needs to perform and its taking part in model. That is what issues essentially the most, past whether or not somebody individually can do one thing extraordinary that finally ends up profitable a recreation. I might lean extra towards the crew’s recreation system quite than a singular participant. — Borgetti

An issue for Mexico is the shortage of stars. Nonetheless, a very powerful gamers from Javier Aguirre’s squad are the veterans Guillermo Ochoa and Jiménez. The goalkeeper of 39 years has one other shot to show that he is the most suitable choice for the following World Cup after the nice performances of Luis Malagón along with his crew (América) and the current look of Álex Padilla with Athletic Bilbao.

Jiménez had a superb month within the Premier League with 4 objectives and one help. One of many biggest coaches, Pep Guardiola, says that “he’s again” and that is what Aguirre, alongside the nationwide crew, expects. — Flores

An enormous energy for Mexico is their gamers with World Cup expertise. Will probably be fascinating to see if a “new” participant is granted an enormous variety of minutes to show that he can break into the beginning lineup. Rodrigo Huescas or Marcel Ruiz may very well be an instance of this. However the principle story to comply with is that if Ochoa will begin towards the USA and the attainable debut of ahead Germán Berterame. — Rodríguez

Which crew has extra to lose proper now and why?

It is Mexico. Their nationwide crew is already on skinny ice with a fan base that has already booed and jeered El Tri after its newest 2-2 draw with an alternate Valencia facet. In contrast to Pochettino, who’s a recent face nonetheless adjusting to his environment, Mexico’s Aguirre has returned for a 3rd time and is predicted to as soon as once more be a firefighter. Being unable to smother the USMNT’s flames can be a major and early blemish for Aguirre, particularly as a result of taking part in at residence. — Hernandez

I feel Mexico has way more to lose as a result of it’s taking part in on residence soil. Pleasant matches towards the U.S. have hardly ever been performed in Mexico. So right now I feel it will be vital, below Aguirre, to play an excellent recreation, and it is also vital to forge a brand new reference to the followers. An excellent victory towards the USA would kind out the laziness a bit and assist get issues again on monitor. — Borgetti

It is a easy pleasant match, and it’ll solely assist each coaches collect some details about one another, however nothing past that. We may suppose that, with Mexico being the host, a defeat will solely make issues worse, and the disaster would simply keep it up, but when it wins it will even be improper to imagine that it may flip the web page. — Rodríguez

What can we count on from the ambiance in Guadalajara? How are Mexico followers approaching the sport?

There was plenty of chat across the recreation that followers should not shopping for many tickets. However we’ll see an excellent match at Guadalajara, which has plenty of expectation, and I feel we are able to count on a sellout. Solely with outcomes will folks fall in love once more, not an interview or what you say forward of the match. What folks actually care about is the result and an excellent show. — Borgetti

Mexico’s matches in its personal nation are much less intense than in the USA. El Tri doesn’t have an actual connection at its personal turf as a result of a lot of the video games are held on American soil, and the current scores don’t assist. FMF is making an effort so the crew can reconnect with the followers, and it hopes the anti-gay chant, which began in Guadalajara at Jalisco, would not seem once more. One of the simplest ways to counterattack that is with objectives and an excellent streak of matches. — Flores

It is easy to imagine that the followers in Jalisco may result in a capability crowd on the stadium as a result of there aren’t many visits of the nationwide crew to that a part of the nation, much more so while you’re dealing with the most important rival. Now, as all the time at Estadio Azteca or the video games in United States, the ambiance will rely upon how the match develops and if the crew is profitable or shedding. Within the opening minutes, the followers will present assist, however this might change rapidly relying on how the sport goes. — Rodríguez

What’s going to it take for the USMNT to clinch its second win in Mexico following 2012’s victory?

Mexico’s assault will not be as form as Panama’s, so the USMNT should tighten up its defensive construction throughout transition moments. Going ahead, specializing in the left with fast overlapping runs from Robinson, in addition to Pulisic’s substitute possible roaming inside in the identical method, will you should definitely present some avenues towards a Mexican protection that has its personal set of worries. — Hernandez

How will the absence of key gamers affect the USMNT’s preparations and crew choice?

Mauricio Pochettino can be seeking to rotate gamers towards Mexico in Guadalajara, given the departure of 5 gamers from the U.S. males’s nationwide crew camp.

Fossey, Steffen, Mckennie, Pepi departed the October USMNT camp after the 2-0 victory over Panama on Oct. 12 as a result of accidents, whereas Pulisic returned to AC Milan to keep away from work overload. The brand new supervisor admitted to feeling disillusioned of their exit, however insists the pleasant now serves because the final likelihood to look at gamers earlier than the following worldwide window. Alejandro Zendejas, Brandon Vázquez, Malik Tillman and Haji Wright may all see extra time within the absence of Pulisic and Pepi.

Although the crew expects a troublesome match towards Aguirre’s Mexico, Pochettino maintained that taking part in on Mexican soil will give his gamers the chance to study and develop within the face of adversity. Enjoying towards one of many USMNT’s largest rivals in entrance of a sold-out crowd at Estadio Akron will problem the USA to develop and enhance forward of the 2026 World Cup. — Lizzy Becherano

What are your rating predictions and why?

2-2. With each coaches nonetheless making an attempt to place their stamp on their groups, this looks like a match through which attackers could have possibilities to capitalize on defensive hiccups. Both manner, it must be a enjoyable one, with loads of gamers desirous to make a reputation for themselves below their new coach. — Hernandez

Mexico will beat United States 2-1. Will probably be Aguirre’s fourth match in his new tenure, and he has extra information of his gamers than Pochettino does. Additionally, Aguirre was the final Mexico coach to beat the USA and is rarely afraid to sacrifice the crew’s model if he can get the win. — Flores

This match must be an in depth one as a result of it will likely be held on Mexican soil, and the house crew ought to take benefit, even when we’re speaking a couple of pleasant match. Predicting a rating is not simple, however Mexico ought to come out on prime of this one 2-1. — Rodríguez