PHOENIX, Ariz. — The United States Men’s National Team is undefeated in its new cycle under coach Mauricio Pochettino, but it’s set to face its biggest test yet.
It will take on Mexico — its biggest regional rival and the current holder of every major North American soccer title — in a friendly match in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Here’s what to watch for as the USMNT aims to go 3-0 in its post-World Cup matchups:
A feisty game…and an even feistier crowd
When asked about the prospective balance of the crowd for this match — it’s expected to skew heavily in Mexico’s favor — the USMNT’s coaches and players weren’t shy about sharing how it would impact them. “One nil down for us,” Pochettino laughed. “We start for sure one nil down.”
Pochettino went on to describe the value of a hostile environment like that, adding that he celebrated games like this as excellent learning experiences in advance of his team’s next World Cup qualification process. He has a great point there. A huge portion of this young USMNT lineup hasn’t faced a team like Mexico in senior competition; while the pro-Mexico crowd will be painful for them, it will help them prepare for hostile away crowds in the future.
If they’re luck, it might also help them get a little more hostile themselves. “America against Mexico is one of the best games here, it’s going to be a tough game,” said defender Sergiño Dest. “Sometimes there will be fights, sometimes there won’t, but we play on home soil, so we’ve got to show our passion to them and that we’re a great team and they can’t be aggressive like that against us.
“It’s going to be a little war on the field, you know?”