Action from the last meeting between the USA (white jersey) and Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup on October 10, 2015, in Pasadena, California. (Photo: Mexsport)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round, Matchday 1
Date: November 11, 2016
Match: USA v Mexico
Venue: MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Time: 7:01 p.m. (local)
MATCH OFFICIALS
R: Walter Lopez (Guatemala)
AR1: Leonel Leal (Costa Rica)
AR2: Gerson Lopez (Guatemala)
4th: Oscar Reyna (Guatemala)
SUSPENSIONS
none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES
Mexico leads: 15W-6D-6L (65GF, 31GA)
LAST WCQ MEETING
September 10, 2013: USA 2, Mexico 0
Eddie Johnson 49’; Landon Donovan 78’
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM
USA: WWWLD
Mexico: DWWWW
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
USA (Overall record: 4W-1D-1L … 20GF, 3GA)
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
Mexico (Overall record: 5W-1D-0L … 13GF, 1 GA)
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
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS
USA: Jozy Altidore (6); Geoff Cameron, Sacha Kljestan, Cristian Pulisic, Bobby Wood (2); Paul Arriola, Matt Besler, Clint Dempsey, Fabian Johnson, Gyasi Zardes, Graham Zusi
Mexico: Jesus Corona (3); Andres Guardado (2); Jurgen Damm, Javier Hernandez, Hector Herrera, Raul Jimenez, Hirving Lozano, Hector Moreno, Angel Sepulveda, Carlos Vela
KEY 2018 WCQ MOMENT
USA: The U.S. kicked off qualifying by going 1W-1D-1L through three fourth-round games. A 6-1 win against visiting St. Vincent & the Grenadines ignited the campaign, but a scoreless at Trinidad & Tobago and 2-0 loss at Guatemala followed. Everything changed on matchday four as the Americans avenged the Guatemala setback with a comprehensive 4-0 over Guatemala. Clint Dempsey (12’) and Geoff Cameron (35’) scored in the first half, while Graham Zusi (46’) and Jozy Altidore (89’) did the same in the second. First place in Group C with a pair of shutout triumphs – 6-0 away v St. Vincent & the Grenadines and 4-0 home v Trinidad & Tobago.
Mexico: After having to survive an intercontinental playoff with New Zealand to earn a place in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Mexico needed and wanted to start its 2018 campaign in the best way possible. It did just that, opening fourth-round play with a confidence-fortifying 3-0 win over visiting El Salvador on November 13, 2015. The Tricolor jumped to a 2-0 lead by halftime on goals by Andres Guardado (7’) and Hector Herrera (42’), before Carlos Vela (64’) completed the scoreline with a second-half strike. It was the first of four straight shutouts and Mexico was off to the races, ultimately becoming the first side to progress to the Hexagonal.
FAST FACTS
USA
- Played in every World Cup from Italia 1990 through Brazil 2014 … longest active streak by any CONCACAF side.
- Holds record for most Hexagonal wins (29) and most first-place finishes (3).
- Scored most goals in fourth-round WCQ play (20 … Guatemala #2 with 18)
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 (86)
- Shares record with Costa Rica for most goals scored in a single Hexagonal (both scored 23 in 1998)
