Few rivalries in international soccer match the intensity and passion of Mexico vs. the U.S. men's national team.
The stakes are simply higher whenever these two Concacaf giants meet. History, honor, prestige and the identity of both nations are put on the line. There's always fireworks when the Stars and Stripes clash with El Tri. There are no friendly matches between these two nations—though there have, technically, been plenty.
For a deeply soccer loving nation like Mexico, losing to their neighbors to the north in a sport that is far from their most popular and most dominant, is unforgivable. For a rising soccer country like the U.S., obsessed with winning, overtaking Mexico as the region's dominant force is a must.
It's a bitter rivalry. From a 50-year Mexican dominance, to "Dos A Cero," to El Tri finally conquering Columbus in 2016 and to that fateful afternoon in Jeonju, South Korea in 2002. The rivalry goes back nearly a century.
Fast forward to the present, the USMNT and Mexico will clash in the 2025 Gold Cup final, adding another chapter to their fierce rivalry.
Before they take the field at NRG Stadium next Sunday, looks back at the historic head-to-head record of the enormous rivalry between Mexico and the USMNT.
