New U.S. men’s national soccer team coach Mauricio Pochettino gets his first big test when his team faces rival Mexico in Zapopan, Mexico, near Guadalajara, on Tuesday night.
This match marks the USMNT’s first friendly in Mexico since 2012, which coincidentally is the team’s only win in Mexico in 28 all-time matches played in the nation. That 2012 friendly took place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Tuesday night’s match will be held at the Estadio Akron, which is the home of Liga MX’s Chivas de Guadalajara.
The Pochettino era with the USMNT got off to a promising start on Saturday, when the U.S. defeated Panama, 2-0, in Austin, Texas. Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi each scored goals in the win. Pepi, however, will not be available to play against Mexico; neither will the team’s top player, Christian Pulisic, as well as mainstay Weston McKennie.
USA TODAY Sports will provide updates, highlights and analysis from the USMNT’s friendly match against Mexico on Tuesday night:
Yellow card for Aidan Morris
Aidan Morris was given a yellow card in the 34th minute for a challenge on Cesar Huerta. Morris was going for the ball, but as Huerta moved to evade him, Morris caught the top of his foot. The referee quickly showed the yellow, much to the anger of Morris and his teammates. — Nancy Armour
Mexico 1, US 0: Raúl Jiménez scores on free kick
Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez pummeled a free kick into the top right corner of the goal and out of the reach of USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner to give Mexico a lead 22 minutes into Tuesday night’s friendly.
Jiménez’s goal came as a result of a foul by Aidan Morris on Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado.
Jiménez — who plays club soccer for Fulham of the English Premier League — now has 34 goals in 105 appearances. — Jim Reineking
Mexico legend Andres Guardado says goodbye
Andres Guardado’s time with El Tri has come to an end.
Guardado, whose 182 appearances with the national team are the most of any Mexico player, was subbed off to loud applause in the 19th minute. The friendly with the U.S. was his last with the Mexican national team.
Guardado, 38, has been a fixture for El Tri since 2005. He played in five World Cups, and was captain of the 2018 squad. — Nancy Armour
Late lineup change for USMNT
U.S. Soccer announced right before kickoff that Miles Robinson will replace Mark McKenzie in the starting lineup. No reason was given for the switch.
Shoes to fill with Christian Pulisic out
Not having Christian Pulisic will never be a good thing for the USMNT. However, his and four other players’ return to their clubs ahead of Tuesday night’s game against Mexico will give other players an opportunity to make an impression on Mauricio Pochettino.
“It’s a little bit sad because these guys (who left), they were here and they wanted to help and play for the team,” Pochettino said Monday. “But at the same time, when one door is closed, another can be opened. For sure it’s a possibility for another player.”
In addition to Pulisic, who returned to AC Milan for “load management,” Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Zack Steffen and Marlon Fossey had minor injuries and went back to their clubs for evaluation and treatment. McKennie is a regular starter, and Pepi scored against Panama after coming in as a second-half-substitute Saturday.
“It’s really important for the (remaining) players because they’re going to have the possibility to play and show their quality,” Pochettino said.
The first to benefit is Malik Tillman, who got the start in Pulisic’s place.
“Malik is an unbelievable talent,” Pochettino said, likening him to Dele Alli, who played for him at Tottenham.
“We need to use our experience to try to challenge him, to try to compete in this way,” Pochettino said. “Because if Malik competed in the way (Dele Alli) used to compete, for sure (he) has the capacity, the talent the body, the power, everything.
“That is not to say something, to take in a bad way. I think he’s an amazing talent,” Pochettino added. “It’s only to help him be better and better. Because for us, it’s not enough. Like Pulisic or different players. We need to help them be better and better. Yes, they are good players. Is it enough? No.” — Nancy Armour
USMNT vs. Mexico TV channel
The television broadcast will be available on TNT, with pregame coverage starting at 9:30 p.m. ET. A Spanish-language television broadcast is available on TUDN and Univision.
USMNT vs. Mexico live stream
The match will stream on Max and Peacock, with pregame coverage starting at 9:30 p.m. ET. Streaming is also available on fubo.
Where is the USMNT’s friendly against Mexico being played?
The Mexico-USMNT friendly will be held at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico. The stadium is home to Chivas de Guadalajara, a 12-time Liga MX champion and two-time Concacaf Champions League winner.
USMNT starting lineup vs. Mexico
Mauricio Pochettino’s second starting lineup looks a lot like his first.
The new U.S. men’s national team coach made only one change for Tuesday night’s game against archrival Mexico in Guadalajara, and he didn’t much have a choice. With Christian Pulisic allowed to return to AC Milan for “load management” reasons, Pochettino inserted Malik Tillman into the starting lineup.
The rest of the 11 remained the same, with Matt Turner starting in goal and Joe Scally, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson on the back line. Brenden Aaronson, Yunus Musah, Gianluca Busio and Aidan Morris join Tillman in the midfield, and Josh Sargent starts at forward.
The remaining nine players are all available as substitutes.
In addition to Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Zack Steffen and Marlon Fossey returned to their clubs after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Panama in Pochettino’s debut. Pulisic and Pepi were the only two who played in that game, with Pulisic recording the assist on Musah’s goal and Pepi scoring deep in stoppage time after coming in as a substitute in the second half. — Nancy Armour
Mexico starting lineup vs. USMNT
USMNT star Christian Pulisic, along with Weston McKennie, Marlon Fossey, Ricardo Pepi and Zack Steffen will not be available for the team’s friendly against Mexico.
Pulisic headed back to his club team, AC Milan, with what U.S. Soccer called “load management.” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino had previously expressed concern over Pulisic’s heavy workload.
McKennie — who did not play in Saturday’s win over Panama — along with Fossey, Pepi and Steffen have “minor injuries” and also will return to their respective club teams.
No additional players were added to the roster for the game against Mexico to replace the absent players.
Which players are on the USMNT roster?
Goalkeepers (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/Wales), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/England)
Defenders (8): Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege/Belgium), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/Italy), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/France), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach/Germany), Auston Trusty (Celtic/Scotland)
Midfielders (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/England), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/Italy), Weston McKennie (Juventus/Italy), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/England), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/Italy), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyonnais/France), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands)
Forwards (6): Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/Italy), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/England), Brandon Vazquez (C.F. Monterrey/Mexico), Haji Wright (Coventry City/England), Alex Zendejas (Club América/Mexico)
Which players are on the Mexico roster?
Goalkeepers (3): Luis Malagón (Club América), Guillermo Ochoa (AVS Futebol/Portugal), Raúl Rangel (Chivas de Guadalajara)
Defenders (8): Edson Álvarez (West Ham United/England), Jesús Angulo (Tigres UANL), Bryan González (Pachuca), Rodrigo Huescas (FC Copenhagen/Denmark), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow/Russia), Jesús Orozco (Chivas de Guadalajara), Jorge Sánchez (Cruz Azul), Johan Vásquez (Genoa/Italy)
Midfielders (8): Sebastián Córdova (Tigres UANL), Andrés Guardado (León), Érik Lira (Cruz Azul), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens/Greece), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Marcel Ruiz (Toluca), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders/USA)
Forwards (7): Roberto Alvarado (Chivas de Guadalajara), Germán Berterame (Monterrey), Ozziel Herrera (Tigres UANL), César Huerta (Pumas UNAM), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham/England), Diego Lainez (Tigres UANL), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas UNAM), Alexis Vega (Toluca)
Why Seattle Sounders’ Obed Vargas is with Mexico and not USMNT
Despite playing for the youth U.S. national teams at both the U-20 and U-23 teams — including representing the U.S. at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup — Obed Vargas completed a FIFA-approved one-time switch from the USMNT to play for Mexico at the international level.
The 19-year-old midfielder has been a standout performer for Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC, with whom he played a vital role in helping win the 2022 Concacaf Champions League.
Vargas played twice this year for Mexico’s U-23 team and received his first call up to the senior national team for this international window and could make his El Tri debut against the rival U.S.
“I really felt like I completed my career,” Vargas said last week. “Just getting the call-up and knowing that I’m going to be there. It just felt like I made it.”
Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Vargas is the first Alaskan to play for a men’s senior national soccer team.
Vargas has made 52 starts and 65 appearances with the Sounders since making his MLS debut in 2021. When he made his Sounders debut, Vargas was 15 years and 351 days old and was the third-youngest player in MLS history behind Freddy Adu and Alphonso Davies. He has since been surpassed by several other players. — Jim Reineking
In September, Mauricio Pochettino was named the new coach for the U.S. men’s national soccer team, marking a major shift for the program.
It’s not just that Pochettino, 52, is a new voice with a different style of play from the team’s previous manager Gregg Berhalter. It’s that the Argentine — who has coached multiple Premier League clubs, and has had success in the Champions League — has the kind of proven track record at the top of the global game that U.S. Soccer has never been able to access for the USMNT. — Jason Anderson
USMNT 2024 schedule and results
- Jan. 20 (friendly) — Slovenia 1, United States 0
- March 21 (Nations League semifinal) — United States 3, Jamaica 1
- March 24 (Nations League final) — United States 2, Mexico 0
- June 8 (friendly) — Colombia 5, United States 1
- June 12 (friendly) — United States 1, Brazil 1
- June 23 (Copa America) — United States 2, Bolivia 0
- June 27 (Copa America) — Panama 2, United States 1
- July 1 (Copa America) — Uruguay 1, United States 0
- Sept. 7 (friendly) — Canada 2, United States 1
- Sept. 10 (friendly) — United States 1, New Zealand 1
- Oct. 12 (friendly) —United States 2, Panama 0
- Oct. 15 (friendly) — Mexico vs. United States
- Nov. 14 or 15 (Nations League quarterfinal, Leg 1) — United States vs. TBD
- Nov. 18 (Nations League quarterfinal, Leg 2) — United States vs. TBD
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