As the USA prepare to face Mexico for their final round of CONCACAF’s World Cup qualifiers, we take a look at the history of this rivalry and some notable incidents. The rivalry between these two major powers in the CONCACAF region dates back to the 1990s.
The two sides faced each other for the first time in the 1934 World Cup in Italy. At that time, soccer was mainly a foreign sport in the USA, but across the border, it was part of Mexico’s culture. Since then, matches between these two sides have attracted a lot of interest from the general public and media.
USA and Mexico soccer fans pose for a photo before a previous game
The two sides have faced each other 65 times in total with Mexico enjoying 33 wins, losing 18, and drawing 14. The largest victory ever registered in this fixture was 6-0 in favor of Mexico on September 4, 1949.
Here’s a quick look at the head to head record between the two sides, courtesy of USA Soccer, courtesy of USSoccer
One of the most popular incidents in this fixture took place in 2004 when Mexican media reported that Landon Donovan(pictured below), a former U.S. player, had urinated on the pitch during his side’s training. The incident angered many Mexican fans and media outlets, and during the match, Mexican fans could be heard chanting ‘Osama, Osama, Osama’ referring to the late Osama Bin Laden and the September 9/11 attacks. Mexico won the match 4-0. 
Then in 2009, the two sides met for their 2010 World Cup qualifier at the Columbus Crew Stadium. The USA won 2-0 and after the match, Mexican assistant manager Francisco Javier Ramirez was spotted slapping Frankie Hejduk in the face. The retired American player did not retaliate and Ramirez was not punished for the incident.
And now, the two sides are set to face each other once again in a heated political environment as the USA prepares to elect its 45th president. And with the issue of immigration being a main point of discussion throughout the presidential campaigns, this fixture has once again found a new talking point and one more reason not to miss it.
And there's already some excitement building up on social media over this fixture
I CANT WAIT FOR USA VS MEXICO Columbus gonna be LIT
— Brendan (@BrendoTGB) November 8, 2016
I'll be in the LA area on Friday & need a sports bar where I can watch the USA vs Mexico game. Can someone point me in the right direction?
— Jorge Franco (@LLCoolJorge) November 8, 2016
Looking forward to Friday's USA vs Mexico match.
— Matthew Thompson (@VegboysThompson) November 8, 2016
USA vs Mexico game this Friday in Columbus I can't wait!!!
— Cristian Melendez (@CMelendez17) November 8, 2016
Meanwhile, here's the USA squad to face Mexico on Friday
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), William Yarbrough (Club León)
Defenders: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United)
Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Strikers: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Jóhannsson (Werder Bremen), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Bobby Wood (Hamburger SV)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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