USMNT vs. Mexico Breakdown

That night, the 74th all-time meeting was held between the sides, with the game ending the same way that it began. With the scoreless draw, the Americans needed a win in their next match the following Sunday against Panama to practically assure a World Cup berth.

Long story short: They got it done. Fast-forward to the spring of 2023: After a successful March camp, which assures the Stars and Stripes berths in not only the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the championship rounds of the CONCACAF Nations League later on this spring and early summer, the Americans return to home soil for the Allstate Continental Clasico from Glendale, AZ"s State Farm Stadium.

USMNT vs. Mexico"s Diamond-Anniversary Match Wednesday Night in Glendale

Wednesday"s match (kickoff 10:20 pm ET/ 7:20 pm PT) will be streamed by Warner Bros.-Discovery-owned HBOMax, as always. What"s different this time around is the linear television designation for the match.

Take note of this: Due to TNT"s continuing coverage of the 2023 NBA Playoffs most nights this week, the USMNT vs. Mexico contest will air on sister network TBS immediately following AEW Dynamite at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT.

Live coverage of the game will be seen in Spanish on NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo and NBC Universo and streamed on Peacock.

USMNT Much Better in March Camp

Let"s be honest with ourselves here: The January camp for the United States Men"s National Team wasn"t something that soccer fans in America wanted to see. Perhaps the team was overcome by the distraction of having its longtime manager Gregg Berhalter being the subject of an investigation and the appointment of Anthony Hudson as interim manager.

Whatever the reason was in January, the team needed to rebound in a major way. March camp for the Stars and Stripes went much smoother, with the Americans securing back-to-back victories to sew up a first-place finish in their group.

With the team"s first winning streak since last summer ongoing, can they keep up the momentum?

Morris Can Bring the Fire to USMNT

Clubs weren"t mandated to release selected players for this April camp, given that Wednesday night"s friendly won"t be in a usual FIFA international window. The USMNT"s 23-player roster for the match includes 10 members of the team that suited up in Qatar for the World Cup last fall.

Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris is off to a brilliant start thus far in MLS this season. Before matchday eight, he held first place in goals scored with eight.

Morris is set to make his 52nd cap for the Americans on Wednesday night. His quick lead in the race for the MLS Golden Boot is one that"s impressed the manager.

“He"s someone that, when you play in games like this, when you have just a couple of days" worth of preparation, it"s important to have some consistency in there," Anthony Hudson said. “You don"t just hand players a spot in the national team just because they"ve been with us before. No, these guys are performing very well. They know how we do things, how we want to play, they"re really good to help strengthen and continue [to] build our togetherness within the group."

If Jordan Morris can put the biscuit in the basket this Wednesday, the Americans have a decent shot at walking out of the Phoenix area with the win.

Dest Back for USMNT in Second Straight Camp

Another key cog for the Stars and Stripes last fall in the World Cup was defender Sergino Dest, who plays his club soccer for AC Milan of Serie A. He was an absolutely crucial player for the USMNT"s run in Qatar, making an assist on Christian Pulisic‘s winning goal against Iran in the final matchday of the group stage.

This will be the second consecutive training camp for Dest as a member of the team, having appeared during the March 27, 1-0 victory over El Salvador. Hudson looks to count on him once again this week.

“With the way we select the next two or three squads, there"s going to be all these unique situations with players, and Sergino, first of all, we"re so grateful to the club for allowing him to come to this game and play against Mexico," Hudson said. “He was great in the World Cup. We love having him around the team. And not only that, he wants to come and wants to play in the game."

Sergino Dest is a man who hasn"t seen much action on the pitch of late, so any time on the field is helpful to him.

Mexico Coming in on Decent Form

Mexico, much like the USMNT, won its group in the CONCACAF Nations League. Dating back to last year"s World Cup, El Tri has posted a record of 2-2-1 in the last five matches.

Most recently, Mexico secured a slot in the Nations League"s championship rounds with a 2-2 draw against Jamaica. El Tri had a new manager to guide them through. Diego Cocca was appointed as the squad"s new head coach back in February.

Cocca succeeded former manager Gerardo Martino, whose contract expired last November upon El Tri failing to get beyond the group stage of the World Cup. However, Cocca faces a tall order in his first match as coach of the national team against the Stars and Stripes.

Americans Holding Serve Against El Tri

The USMNT has had control of the rivalry in recent times. Dating back to just before the turn of the century, the Americans have beaten Mexico 17 times, including three straight victories at home in 2021.

It"ll be another contest on home turf, so will the Stars" and Stripes good form hold once again? Tune into TBS after wrestling and find out.

Final Thoughts

The Allstate Continental Clasico serves as the first of two straight matches between the USMNT and El Tri. After Wednesday night"s contest, they"ll square off once again in June during the Nations League Semifinal in Las Vegas

The key is to take it one match at a time and one moment at a time. May the better team win.

Prediction: USMNT 3, El Tri 0.

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