2024 USMNT Friendly: Scouting Mexico

The United States Men’s National Team opened the international window with a 2-0 victory against Panama, showing some of the attacking menace that has been missing in past performances against the Central American foe. As is increasingly customary in these windows, Mexico is to be the next opponent, ideally providing a stern test as both programs seek quality competition before hosting the 2026 World Cup. Whether this is another hallowed chapter in the long and dramatic history of the rivalry or a soon-to-be forgotten fixture remains to be seen, as both combatants are far from high watermarks of years past. For the first time, the match will be held at the “new and modern” Estadio Akron, a 48,071-seat multipurpose stadium with a natural grass surface in the Jalisco town of Zapopan; this is the series’ first friendly south of the border since August of 2012.

This is the 78^th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USMNT on the wrong side of a 24-36-17 record but enjoying a seven-match unbeaten streak that dates back to September of 2019. Ranked 17^th internationally by FIFA, Mexico is enduring a down year with a loss to the aforementioned rivals (0-2) in the championship of March’s CONCACAF Nations League Finals and a group-stage exit at the Copa América with a victory over Jamaica (1-0), a defeat to Venezuela (1-0), and a tie with Ecuador (0-0). Recent friendly results include a victory against New Zealand (3-0), a draw to Canada (0-0), and an even match-up with club side Valencia (2-2).

Following Jaime Lozano’s short tenure, the decision was made for a reliable old soldier to return to the program, with former player and two-time manager Javier Aguirre being hired in July. The 65-year-old has extensive experience spanning across multiple continents, most recently at Mallorca, and brings “an in-depth knowledge of the processes” with the hopes of building “an important foundation.” Rafael Márquez was brought in as the top assistant and is expected to “take the reins after the 2026 World Cup.”

Aguirre named an initial 27-player roster for the international window, but forward Henry Martín departed the squad due to “muscle discomfort” and was replaced by midfielder Érik Lira. The largely domestic group features 19 talents on the books in Liga MX (led by four inclusions from Tigres UANL), while eight compete in Europe and one representative hails from Major League Soccer. Key absences are Jesús Gallardo, Hirving Lozano, Uriel Antuna, Érick Gutiérrez, Luis Chávez, Santiago Giménez, Érick Sánchez, Gerardo Arteaga, and Julián Araujo.

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GOALKEEPERS (3): Guillermo Ochoa (AVS), Luis Malagón (América), Raúl Rangel (Guadalajara)

DEFENDERS (7): César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jorge Sánchez (Cruz Azul), Johan Vásquez (Genoa), Jesús Angulo (UANL), Jesús Orozco (Guadalajara), Bryan González (Pachuca), Rodrigo Huescas (Copenhagen)

MIDFIELDERS (12): Andrés Guardado (León), Edson Álvarez (West Ham United), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Diego Lainez (UANL), Sebastián Córdova (UANL), Ozziel Herrera (UANL), Marcel Ruiz (Toluca), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders), Érik Lira (Cruz Azul)

FORWARDS (5): Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Alexis Vega (Toluca), César Huerta (UNAM), Guillermo Martínez (UNAM), Germán Berterame (Monterrey)

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Aguirre is known for building “tough-to-beat” sides with a highly-prepared “game of psychology, resistance, and opportunism” that employs “very defined tactical principles” but shifts to the available talent base. He tends to prefer the 4-3-3 formation and is willing to improvise, with a priority on “a compact defensive block” and “damaging the opponent from a reactive posture after recovering the ball.” There is expected to be the traditional Mexico three-player midfield with the wingers buzzing in support of the striker, although there is a refreshing openness in order to see “which system suits [the team] best.”

Mexico has a clear need to get younger at goalkeeper, with Luis Malagón enjoying a sharp rise in the domestic league and making his international debut last year but missing the Copa América due to a “muscle injury.” The 27-year-old at Club América has won Liga MX titles with “dominant” play, demonstrating an uncanny ability to stop even the most goal-bound of shots from the opponent. Standing at six-foot flat, he possesses a standout athleticism with constant movement, quick steps off of his line, and the sure-handedness to parry the ball away to safety instead of surrendering costly rebounds. His full range of distribution includes the decision-making to thrive under pressure, springing the counter-attack with accurate throws to the wingers, and dumping the ball deep into the attacking half.

The reliable Johan Vásquez has been “excelling” in Serie A with Genoa, bringing an “aggressive defensive approach” while also “pushing into the midfield to produce [significant] attacking output.” He thrives on both three- and four-player lines with the speed to combat wingers and a keen timing on his tackles but also possesses the athleticism to claim headers in both halves. As has been the case of late, César Montes should be the partner on the back line, bringing a physical nature at six-foot-three, contributing during the build-up, and registering some of the best clearance and heading statistics in the Russian Premier League. The 27-year-old Lokomotiv Moscow defender is praised as someone “who is daring and likes to have the ball,” accruing a dizzying display of tackles and finishes, although USMNT supporters perhaps remember him best for a rash challenge on Yunus Musah.

The versatile Jesús Angulo can line up on the inside and the outside of the formation and already has three assists this fall with Tigres UANL, providing a balanced profile with “a good burst of pace, good strength, composure,” and aggressive challenges. As expected of many Mexico fullbacks, his role requires action over the length of the field, with regular tackles and interceptions to a constant presence in the build-up and overlapping on the outside. After taking his shot at Europe with Ajax and Porto, Jorge Sánchez returned to Liga MX with Cruz Azul, bringing his willingness to go to ground and a fierce nature in one-on-one situations with the opponent. He is more of a hang-back defensive option who plays a methodical game with measured passing, but there is the occasional venture forward to get onto the end of a cross.

The presence of Edson Álvarez was sorely lacking after the dominant talent suffered a hamstring injury at the Copa América; the multifunctional six has a high level of aggressiveness and the ability to slide backward into a centre-back spot. He is thriving with West Ham, taking an active role that enables him to also push into high areas and even occasionally break out in transition and demonstrate his finishing prowess. Luis Romo of Cruz Azul patrols the area in front of the back line with multiple header wins per match while also taking an active role in possession with distribution that advances play up the field. The 29-year-old from Ahome can withstand pressure before hitting long connections and will also make his way into the final third, finding himself on the end of crosses and generating the odd chance. AEK Athens’ Orbelín Pineda is expected to occupy the ten, stepping into the hole with aggressive actions, a quick first step, and a willingness to test the opponent at a variety of angles. His long and explosive dribbling runs are useful in both dragging possession forward and drawing defenders, which in turn opens up the space for him to locate an open teammate in a box.

Pumas UNAM’s César Huerta has been taking on a bigger role with the program since making his senior international debut last year, earning praise for his “lively ball-to-feet style” and “significantly improving ball retention.” Smarter Scout notes his “good touch under pressure” with “close control and technique,” tearing down the touchline before trying audacious passes at a variety of distances. The other side of the formation is likely to be patrolled by Roberto Alvarado, a versatile playmaker who displays “quick, tricky feet and the [abilities] to take on opponents, create, and finish,” aided by “a low point of gravity.” The 26-year-old Chivas attacker makes deep central cuts and has an increasingly potent taste for goal, demonstrating a willingness to test opposing defenders with sharp movements and goalkeepers with unexpected shots. There is also the potential for Diego Lainez to play a role, with the sharp and creative talent having rediscovered his verve after returning from a long tenure in Europe, contributing four goals and six assists last season for Tigres UANL. He seeks out one-on-one opportunities on either side of the field, displaying an elusive nature with all manner of stops, starts, and turns that are perhaps best used in an inverted role.

With Santiago Giménez out of camp due to injury, Mexico must look to the resurgent Raúl Jiménez who has seemingly turned back the clock after several down years with three goals and one assist in his past four Premier League matches. The Fulham forward is a master of movement in the final third, using his intuitive understanding of spacing in order to time his runs, checking back and pushing forward with equal comfort. Standing at six-foot-two, he is a powerful presence on set pieces and generates a lot of power on his headers but can also serve as a useful asset in the build-up and in transition with various hold-ups and give-and-go combinations. His best work is done during sustained possession, taking a few quick steps in between the defenders and finding the back of the net with a scant few touches.

Both programs are in dire need of a boost after a poor summer campaign that was supposed to demonstrate their respective abilities to contend with the bigger sides in South America. Friendlies are ultimately of little measurable value, but the match provides the opportunity for both managers to further test out tactics and examine the quality of the player pool while building chemistry for a future meaningful meeting. The World Cup looms large on the horizon, and the co-hosts must demonstrate an increased level of prowess, lest the failures of past months continue to the dismay of supporters. The USMNT should come out on top, but fixtures of this nature are far from predictable.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15^th at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, 7:30 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, Max, Univision, TUDN, and FUBO TV (free trial).