Action from the World Cup qualifier between visiting Mexico and the USA (white jersey) on November 11, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. (Photo: John Bacon/Straffon Images)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round, Matchday 6
Date: June 11, 2017
Match: Mexico v USA
Venue: Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
MATCH OFFICIALS
R: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)
AR1: Juan Francisco Zumba (El Salvador)
AR2: William Torres (El Salvador)
4th: Jose Kellys (Panama)
SUSPENSIONS
Mexico: none
USA: none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES
Mexico leads: 16W-6D-6L (67GF, 32GA)
LAST WCQ MEETING
November 11, 2016: USA 1, Mexico 2
Bobby Wood 49’ / Miguel Layun 20’; Rafael Marquez 89’
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM
Mexico: WWWDW
USA: WQWLL
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
Mexico (Overall record: 9W-2D-0L … 21GF, 2GA)
13.11.15 Mexico v El Salvador 3-0
17.11.15 Honduras v Mexico 0-2
25.03.16 Canada v Mexico 0-3
29.03.16 Mexico v Canada 2-0
02.09.16 El Salvador v Mexico 1-3
06.09.16 Mexico v Honduras 0-0
11.11.16 USA v Mexico 1-2
15.11.16 Panama v Mexico 0-0
24.03.17 Mexico v Costa Rica 2-0
28.03.17 Trinidad & Tobago v Mexico 0-1
08.06.17 Mexico 3, Honduras 0
USA (Overall record: 6W-2D-3L … 30GF, 10GA)
13.11.15 USA v St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-1
17.11.15 Trinidad & Tobago v USA 0-0
25.03.16 Guatemala v USA 2-0
29.03.16 USA v Guatemala 4-0
02.09.16 St. Vincent & the Grenadines v USA 0-6
06.09.16 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 4-0
11.11.16 USA v Mexico 1-2
15.11.16 Costa Rica v USA 4-0
24.03.17 USA v Honduras 6-0
28.03.17 Panama v USA 1-1
08.06.17 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 2-0
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS
Mexico: Jesus Corona (3); Andres Guardado, Javier Hernandez, Raul Jimenez, Hirving Lozano (2); Oswaldo Alanis, Nestor Araujo, Jurgen Damm, Hector Herrera, Miguel Layun, Rafael Marquez, Hector Moreno, Diego Reyes, Angel Sepulveda, Carlos Vela (1)
USA: Jozy Altidore (6); Clint Dempsey, Christian Pulisic (5); Bobby Wood (3); Geoff Cameron, Sacha Kljestan (2); Paul Arriola, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Fabian Johnson, Sebastian Lletget, Gyasi Zardes, Graham Zusi (1)
FINAL ROUND SUMMARY
Mexico: Undefeated through five Hexagonal matches, first-place Mexico (1st place: 4W-1D-0L, 13 points) has a five-point lead over second-place Costa Rica and six-point cushion on the USA. Panama -- the next nearest competitor -- trails by five points. A key reason for the Tricolor’s success is a defense that has conceded only on goal in five Hexagonal matches. Additionally, its offense appears to have found a consistent rhythm, netting six goals in its last three outings, after striking only twice in its first two games. Amazingly, Mexico has topped the Hexagonal table only once – the inaugural edition in 1998.
USA: After opening the final round with two consecutive losses, the U.S. (3rd place: 2W-1D-2L, 7 points) has gone unbeaten in three straight, climbing up to third place – one point behind Costa Rica. There have been two factors in that upswing: a defense that has conceded only one goal in those three games and 18-year-old Christian Pulisic, who has had a hand in seven of the team’s last eight goals. Pulisic scored twice in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, lifting his WCQ goal total to three. The U.S. has never won in nine competitive matches at the Azteca, but if it was to get three points Sunday, it will take over second place from idle Costa Rica.
FAST FACTS
Mexico
- Played in every World Cup from USA 1994 through Brazil 2014 … reached Round of 16 in each edition.
- Holds record for most Hexagonal goals scored (94).
- Conceded zero goals in last four WCQs.
- Fifteen different players have scored Mexico’s 21 goals during 2018 WCQ.
- Shares record with Costa Rica for most goals scored in a single Hexagonal (both scored 23 in 1998).
USA
- Played in every World Cup from Italy 1990 through Brazil 2014 … longest active streak of any CONCACAF side.
- Holds record for most Hexagonal wins (31) and most first-place finishes (3).
- Scored most goals in fourth-round WCQ play (20 … Guatemala #2 with 18).
- Clint Dempsey is the USA’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup Qualifying with 18 goals.
- With 56 goals, Clint Dempsey is one goal short of equaling Landon Donovan’s all-time U.S. record.
A FEW MORE THINGS
- Mexico has never lost a competitive match to the U.S. at the Estadio Azteca (7W-2D-0L).
- The USA’s only win at the Estadio Azteca came in an international friendly, 1-0, on August 15, 2012. Michael Orozco scored the game’s only goal in the 80th minute off a back-heel assist from Terrence Boyd. Neither are on roster for Sunday’s match.
- In 11 all-time games v Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, the U.S. has never scored more than one goal; shutout six times.
- Mexico leads all-time series v USA: 34W-14D18L.
- Bruce Arena and Juan Carlos Osorio, head coach of the USA and Mexico, respectively, were both former managers of the New York Red Bulls. In fact, Osorio succeeded Arena following the 2007 season.
