USMNT Readies for Duel in the Desert vs. Mexico

TEMPE, Ariz. – There are a lot of things to say about U.S. versus Mexico, a classic series that dates back more than 90 years since the first all-time meeting in 1934, but one point that players on the U.S. Men's National Team are conveying right now is that they expect the latest edition to live up to the rivalry tag.

"Dislike, hate. I mean, it's a rivalry," midfielder Tyler Adams said. "However, you want to describe a rivalry. When you talk about rivalries, whether it's in Europe in club football or whatever it is, there is a sense of always wanting to win and compete at the highest level. This is one of those games. It's gone on for a long time. There's a lot of history there, and history creates that rivalry, of course, but you just want that winning advantage. Anything you can do to win."

"Mexico is the biggest game for us," midfielder Gio Reyna said. "It's been circled on this window more than any game."

The USMNT meets Mexico for the 80th time on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Glendale, Ariz. The "Duel in the Desert" kicks off at 7:00 p.m. MT at State Farm Stadium, which is home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and can expand to seat approximately 73,000.

"It's going to be like a little war on the field," wingback Sergiño Dest said. "These are the toughest games, and you will feel it. The atmosphere is going to be amazing."

Saturday's matchup is the first time the two 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosts have faced each other since last summer in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final. A young and relatively inexperienced U.S. side under Mauricio Pochettino in his first year as head coach fought bravely but fell short 2-1 at NRG Stadium in Houston as Mexico secured back-to-back Gold Cup titles.

The atmosphere for that Final was deemed World Cup-level, and with the October matchup hosted at an NFL stadium of a comparable capacity, the environment is expected to be just as loud and passionate.

"These games, I feel like it's the real culture and the real passion of football," Dest said. "Rivalries between teams in general are always amazing to see… playing with America against Mexico is one of the best games here. It's going to be a tough game."

"Ever since I first played against Mexico, it's always been the same," fullback Antonee Robinson said. "It doesn't matter whether it's a qualifier, an international match, Nations League, Gold Cup – it's always a fierce competition. You want to win, and it feels really personal."

Six players on Pochettino's current roster saw the field for that Gold Cup Final last summer, including the lone goal scorer for the USMNT that day, center back Chris Richards, and the man who assisted him, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter. The pair plus 11 more holdovers from the USMNT that won Group D to advance to the knockout stage of this summer's World Cup have been telling the 13 first-time call-ups in fall camp what to expect with a rivalry match in front of them.

"That it's never friendly and that it's going to be a fun game," Berhalter on what he told the younger players about Mexico. "It's great for them to see that and hopefully compete and add because we need them. It's going to be a great game."

"I'd rather you go into a tackle and run everywhere and get around the ball and be feisty and have a little tenacity to your game than sit back and watch the game go by," Adams said. "So, all these players that have the opportunity to play tomorrow, that's what we need from them."

For players like 18-year-old forward Julian Hall, who made program history by becoming the youngest player to score a goal in each of his two caps, it's an opportunity to see the rivalry for the first time up close and in person.

"I'm expecting a dogfight," Hall said. "I've watched a lot of them in the past, and I'm excited to see what it's like – the environment, the experience. Hopefully, we come out with a win."

The U.S. will be looking to extend its winning record over Mexico since 2021. The U.S. holds a 5W-2L-2D advantage in the series, including victories in the 2021 and 2024 editions of the Concacaf Nations League Finals as well as the 2021 Gold Cup championship match.

In the latest edition, the U.S. will also aim to continue its current run of form in a new era under Pochettino, which has gotten off to a winning start. The group is coming off back-to-back wins over Peru in Orlando, Fla. on Sept. 26 and Chile in St. Louis, Mo. on Sept. 29 to kick off the four-match fall window. So far, the team has scored four goals in each victory with a variety of contributions from players all over the pitch.

Like the U.S., Mexico is coming off a Round of 16 appearance in FIFA World Cup 2026. After winning Group A without conceding a goal, Mexico's run came to an end in a classic match against tournament semifinalist England at Estadio Azteca.

Since then, Mexico has introduced a new head coach, Rafael Márquez, to succeed the retired Javier Aguirre. One of the most legendary defenders in Mexican soccer history, Márquez is a five-time World Cup participant. His playing resume is stacked with trophies, including four La Liga titles. In 2006 as a member of FC Barcelona, he became the first Mexican player to win the UEFA Champions League. He, like Pochettino, has been signed with his Federation through 2030.

Upon his arrival, Márquez vowed to take Mexico "to another level." Two matches into his debut as manager, Mexico is unbeaten but still looking for its first win after a pair of 1-1 draws against Peru and Colombia in September.

Since the previous meeting last summer between the two senior National Teams, the two countries also met for a youth-level championship. Mexico defeated the U-19 U.S. Men's National Team to capture the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Men's Championship at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Aug. 9, 2026, Mexico's second consecutive title.

"Mexico, in the last year, went in a great direction," Reyna said. "A lot of good, young players coming through as well. So, it's not the easiest game."

For some of the younger players on the USMNT roster, there may be some nerves heading into Saturday's match. Hosting a rival in front of a large crowd is an intense atmosphere, but the message that veterans are delivering to these players has been clear: we are going to need you.

"We need that courage. We need that bravery. We need them to be fearless like they are, so that they can have an impact," Adams said.

"The only thing I can help them with is to stay calm and believe in all the abilities they trained for all these years and show what you got because that's what we need," Dest said.

Dest knows well what it's like to play in USA-Mexico matches in the desert. The wingback started the Concacaf Nations League Semifinal match between the two sides in 2023 at Allegiant Stadium. On a dominant night for the U.S., Dest assisted the third goal of the night to striker Ricardo Pepi as the U.S. defeated Mexico 3-0, giving the 25-year-old both respect for a tough opponent and a taste of what it takes to defeat a longstanding rival.

"Mexico is always going to be a tough opponent," Dest said. "They're always aggressive, and they want to win. And so do we. So it's going to be a difficult game for both sides, and may the best win."