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Mexico-US rivalry takes center stage in Nations League final

El Tri is winless in last six meetings against northern neighbors

By Thomas Buckley

Mexico takes on Team USA, the two-time defending Concacaf Nations League champion, in this year's final. El Tri, winless against the U.S. in their past six encounters, will take the field as an underdog.
Mexico takes on Team USA, the two-time defending Concacaf Nations League champion, in this year's final. El Tri, winless against the U.S. in their past six encounters, will take the field as an underdog. / John Todd/ISI Photos/USSF/GettyImages
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Jaime Lozano and Mexico have their work cut out for them at AT&T Stadium tonight. 

With the Concacaf Nations League trophy at stake, El Tri faces a Team USA side that has dominated this rivalry, posting a 4-2-0 record against their southern neighbors dating back to the first-ever Nations League final.

In addition to that 3-2 overtime win in Denver in 2021, the Stars-and-Stripes defeated Mexico 1-0 in the 2021 Gold Cup final, won 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier (also in 2021) and smashed El Tri 3-0 in last year’s Nations League semifinal.

Team USA – the No. 13 team in the FIFA World Rankings – enters the game as favorites against 15th-ranked Mexico.

Minor line-up tweaks for El Tri

Coach Lozano looks certain to trot out virtually the same line-up that dispatched Panama 3-0 in Thursday’s semifinal. 

Jorge Sánchez is expected to take over at right fullback for the injured Julián Araujo, but that was expected. Araujo got the start because Sánchez was serving a one-game suspension

The only other question mark appears to be winger Julián Quiñones who scored Mexico’s second goal (and his first as a member of El Tri) against Panama. Quiñones limped off the AT&T turf with a thigh complaint and he will likely be a game-time decision.

If Quiñones is unable to go, “Chucky” Lozano is ready to step in though the PSV man played poorly as a substitute on Thursday night. Some pundits would prefer to see Guadalajara’s Roberto Alvarado get the nod as “El Piojo” has been in fine form with the Chivas.

Lozano no doubt was relieved that central defender Johan Vásquez passed a fitness test after taking a couple hard knocks against “Los Canaleros.” Vásquez has been a fixture on the back line since “Jimmy” took the reins a year ago, topping all players in minutes played since then.

Another position that got considerable attention from talking heads was striker. Quite a few pundits lobbied for Feyenoord youngster Santi Giménez over veteran Henry Martín, but Lozano feels more comfortable with the América captain in the point of attack.

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Martín has not scored very much with El Tri (delivery from the wings is not an El Tri strong point), but his movement, his passing and his defensive pressure have been invaluable.

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