USMNT and Mexico renew rivalry in Nations League semifinal showdown

The rivals will meet in Las Vegas with a spot in the Nations League final up for grabs

The U.S. men’s national team will take on Mexico on Thursday night in a high-profile CONCACAF Nations League semifinal in Las Vegas.

Mexico will be aiming to snap a five-game winless run against its biggest rival, which is hoping to defend its Nations League and Gold Cup titles this summer.

The match will be headlined by newcomers: Diego Cocca was hired as Mexico manager in February, while B.J. Callaghan took over as the USMNT’s second interim manager of 2023 in May after Anthony Hudson’s departure. This will be his first game in charge.

The game will also likely see the USMNT debut of one of the nation’s biggest hopes heading to the 2026 World Cup: Folarin Balogun, who chose his birth country over England and Nigeria last month in a major victory for U.S. Soccer.

The winner between the USMNT and Mexico advances to face either Canada or Panama on Sunday in the final, with the loser heading to the third-place game earlier on Sunday.

How to watch USMNT vs. Mexico

Date: Thursday, June 15

Time: 10 p.m. ET

Location: Allegiant Stadium — Las Vegas. Nevada

TV/Streaming: Paramount+ in English, Univision in Spanish

USMNT unbeaten streak vs. Mexico

The USMNT has not lost any of its past five matches against El Tri, including wins in World Cup qualifying, the Gold Cup final and Nations League final.

It’s the second-longest unbeaten run against Mexico in team history behind only a six-match streak from 2011 to 2015.

What they said

Folarin Balogun

“It’s a fantastic opportunity, not just for me, but for the team. Mexico and the U.S. have a big rivalry, so I’m looking forward to it. There will be no better way to introduce myself than playing against big opposition.

“I’ve spoken to the boys and they’ve explained to me the backstory and recent results, and they explained how big an occasion this is.”

Christian Pulisic

“When we play Mexico, we’re always excited. It’s obviously been a rival of ours, and it’s going to be a big challenge and a great game. They’re a top opponent. We’re just going to prepare like we do for any other game, which is the top level of preparation.”

Ricardo Pepi

“My family is Mexican, of course. So now being in this game is going be special for me and for my family. It’s a big game for everyone across the Pepi family. I’m just super excited to be in the game, super proud to be in the game as well.

“Ever since I made my move to the U.S. [my family] has always been for the U.S. and even my family in Mexico, they’re always supporting me. … For this game, they’re going for the U.S.”

Matt Turner

“It’s always a special game when the U.S. gets to play against Mexico. This will only be my second time ever playing against Mexico, so I really look forward to that competition and that challenge. It’s a great rivalry, it still has sparks, and obviously you see a tremendous amount of respect on both sides as well.”

Walker Zimmerman

“We obviously have a lot of memories going up against them. And the way that we approach this game is, ‘Hey, they’re just in our way of getting another trophy.’

“[We don’t want] to overhype it too much. We know that the intensity will be there because it’s a semifinal and that’s what it takes — it’s a knockout game. And that’s just the opponent in our way.”

USMNT roster (club; caps/goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; 12/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal; 26/0)

Defenders (7): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan; 24/2), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; 8/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 34/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; 4/0), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City; 1/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)

Midfielders (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; 6/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo; 14/0), Weston McKennie (Leeds United; 43/11), Yunus Musah (Valencia; 25/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; 18/4), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez; 2/0)

Forwards (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; 30/7), Folarin Balogun (Stade Reims; 0/0), Taylor Booth (FC Utrecht; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (FC Groningen; 14/6), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; 58/23), Tim Weah (Lille; 29/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América; 3/1)

Mexico roster (club; caps/goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna; 6/0), Luis Malagön (Club América; 2/0), Guillermo Ochoa (Salernitana/ITA; 135/0)

Defenders (8): Julián Araujo (Barcelona B/ESP; 6/0), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk/BEL; 18/1), Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey; 84/1), Victor Guzmán (Monterrey; 2/0), César Montes (Espanyol/ESP; 34/1), Israel Reyes (Club América; 7/2), Jorge Sánchez (Ajax/NED; 30/1), Johan Vásquez (Cremonese/ITA; 8/1)

Midfielders (6): Edson Álvarez (Ajax/NED; 61/3), Luis Chávez (Pachuca; 16/1),  Sebastián Córdova (Tigres UANL; 14/3), Oberlín Pineda (AEK Athens/GRE; 52/7), Luis Romo (Monterrey; 29/1), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul; 42/0)

Forwards (4): Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul; 43/10), Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord/NED; 10/2), Ozziel Herrera (Atlas; 3/0), Henry Martín (Club América; 31/7), Érick Sánchez (Pachuca; 12/1), Alexis Vega (Guadalajara; 26/6)

[lawrence-related id=21469,21468,21188]