You could argue its the biggest match between the U.S. and Mexico outside of the 2002 World Cup’s Round of 16, and there would be few arguments against you.
The United States and Mexico will tangle on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, with the winner advancing to the 2017 Confederations Cup finals in Russia.
It’s only so often that these rivals match up in a “do or die” match. Sure World Cup qualifiers carry critical import, but they don’t always become the decisive moment in the qualifying cycle.
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Aside from the aforementioned World Cup match and the first match in the rivalry -- see 1934 below -- no other match has carried as much international weight as Saturday.
So with anticipation high, let’s dance backward in time to the Yanks’ best moments in the rivalry. And let’s also imagine what would have to happen to put Saturday in the mix.
(Of course, our apologies to Mexican fans. We aren’t including the times you slapped American soccer in the face).
2001, 2005, 2009, 2013 -- “Dos a Cero” to the fourth power
There is no more celebrated score line in USMNT history than the 2-0 hurting it put on Mexico in four successive home World Cup qualifiers.
2002 -- World Cup Round of 16
Goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan prodded an upset of the world’s then-No. 7 ranked nation, as the USMNT carried a feel of destiny through its best World Cup.
1934 -- World Cup qualifier
Aldo Donnelli scored all four goals as the States won the first recorded match against Mexico, and it was a big one. The winner would go on to the 1934 tournament in Italy, while the loser would go on a tour of European friendlies. The States won, and wouldn’t win again until the qualifiers for the 1982 tournament.
2012 -- First win at Azteca
It may’ve been a friendly, but Michael Orozco’s finish will go down as the Yanks’ first ever winner in the fortress of Mexico City.
1980 -- World Cup qualifier
Though it meant little to the Yanks’ fate in the 1982 tournament -- the U.S. finished last in a group with Mexico and Canada -- it was the first win over El Tri in 46 years.
