Lucky to even be in this position, to begin with, the United States put both their CONCACAF Nations League dominance and recent streak against Mexico on the line as the two clash in the final from Arlington on Sunday.
The USMNT was extremely fortunate to get away with a horrible performance in the semifinals against Jamaica, with a last-gasp own-goal sending the game to overtime before Haji Wright’s brace rescued the result. The overall 90-minute performance was abysmal, as the U.S. were unable to break down a bunkered Jamaica who scored 31 seconds into the game and sat on it throughout.
Yet the U.S. will know they won’t face the same style of match as they take on bitter rivals Mexico, who stormed to victory over Panama. It was a clinical showing from El Tri who have numerous flaws but remain one of CONCACAF’s power nations.
In the final competitive match for both countries before the Copa America in the summer, there’s far more than a trophy on the line here. Bragging rights are always up for grabs when these two teams meet, but a few months of positivity can also be secured with a quality win here.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs Mexico match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
USA vs Mexico live score
| Score (1′) | Goal scorers | |
| USA | 0 | – |
| Mexico | 0 | – |
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. local (9:15 p.m. ET / 6:15 p.m. PT)
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN)
Starting lineups:
USA (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 2. Dest, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 8. McKennie, 4. Adams — 21. Weah, 7. Reyna, 10. Pulisic — 14. Wright.
Mexico (4-3-3, right to left): Ochoa (GK) — J. Sanchez, Montes, J. Vasquez, Gallardo — E. Sanchez, E. Alvarez, Chavez — Antuna, Martin, Lozano.
USA vs Mexico live updates, highlights, commentary
USA vs Mexico: First Half
1st min: Right off the opening whistle, Mexico goes right at Sergino Dest, who commits an early foul before a slight finger wag at the referee. Dest will be a target for Mexico and will need to keep his wits about him. He was unable to do so in his last appearance, leading to a daft red card against Trinidad & Tobago. El Tri will know and exploit any mental weakness he shows.
Kickoff: Canadian referee Drew Fischer blows his whistle and they’re under way at AT&T Stadium! There are concerns about this pitch at AT&T Stadium, which is a few inches of sod laid on top of concrete, which hasn’t worked in the past, and hasn’t worked here either. We’ll see how it holds up tonight, but the seams are apparent and it was torn to pieces on Thursday between the two matches.
“It’s less than ideal” 👀
Concerns about the condition of the pitch at AT&T Stadium are weighing over the Concacaf Nations League final 😬 pic.twitter.com/azHpw6tkAG
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 25, 2024
USA vs Mexico: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more
15 mins to kickoff: The U.S. may be playing on home soil, but they are going to be in a hostile environment tonight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The USMNT took the field for warmups to a “smattering of boos” but there are estimates that the fan distribution is around 90% Mexico to just 10% USA. That’s shocking, but not terribly unexpected.
For the Concacaf crown 👑 pic.twitter.com/bXooTknLMd
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) March 24, 2024
30 mins to kickoff: CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani was not about to be drawn on picking a side in tonight’s match, so he decided to split the difference and predict an exciting 3-3 draw that ends in a penalty shootout. How do you think this rivalry game will finish?
⚔️ @Nicocantor1 tried to get a score prediction out of Concacaf President Victor Montagliani for Mexico-USMNT 😂 pic.twitter.com/T46iPYQrRB
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 24, 2024
45 mins to kickoff: Gio Reyna, who has enjoyed his time with the national team even as his club situation remains a struggle, is starting for the United States. Reyna continues to contribute for the USMNT, and now has five goal contributions since Gregg Berhalter re-joined the team as head coach, the most of any player. Can he add to that total tonight in a trophy-winning effort?
Most goal contributions by a USMNT player since Gregg Berhalter returned as head coach.
[📷: Futbol Americas on ESPN+] pic.twitter.com/3eUuKvUxIY
— USMNT Otaku 🇺🇸 (@USMNTOtaku) March 23, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: Gregg Berhalter’s biggest lineup call is riding the hot hand with Haji Wright up front. The 25-year-old is a late-bloomer at the national team level, but he’s been around this setup for a while.
Wright was a superstar as a teenager in the youth national team setup, scoring goals in bunches as a 17-year-old, but faded as a full professional at the club level. He’s on fire now at Coventry City in the Championship, with 13 goals and six assists in 35 league games. After two goals off the bench in the semifinals, he now gets the chance from the start, with Folarin Balogun sent to the bench amidst a scoring drought.
While every USMNT fan is a Haji Wright fan for a few days, I want to make a point that I’m not sure most know.
Wright a long time ago was one of the most hyped American youth players. He had the US U-17 goal record (27 in 34 games) until Josh Sargent broke it two years later (30…
— USMNTProspects (@ProspectsUsmnt) March 22, 2024
1 hour 15 mins to kick: The USMNT lineup is out 15 minutes early. Sergino Dest comes into the XI after his suspension, but there’s a surprise as Tyler Adams is included just days after being subbed in and out thanks to his minutes limit while recovering from a long-term hamstring injury.
Gio Reyna and Haji Wright have both earned a starting place after their extra-time heroics in the semifinal, as Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman come out.
5 – The #USMNT’s five changes to the starting XI for the Nations League Final are the most between a semifinal and final in team history. Overhaul. pic.twitter.com/HMbAus9tfK
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) March 25, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: There’s a report that Colombian-born winger Julian Quinones will not be fit for tonight’s match. That’s a blow to Mexico, who earned just his third international cap against Panama and grabbed his first goal for El Tri. He’s been absolutely on fire for Club America this season, with 16 goals and eight assists in 35 games across the current campaign.
It likely means that Uriel Antuna will retain his starting spot with Hirving Lozano being brought into the XI.
🇲🇽SELECCIÓN🇲🇽
❌LA FINAL SIN QUIÑONES❌
Julián Quiñones no está al 100 por ciento y por tal motivo no estará esta noche en la Final de la @CNationsLeague contra Estados Unidos!!!
Fuerte baja para la Selección Mexicana!!!@TUDNMEX @TUDNUSA pic.twitter.com/OOyPVBFdrd
— Gibrán Araige (@GibranAraige) March 24, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Young Philadelphia product Cavan Sullivan may be years from the U.S. national team, but he’s already starting to become a household name. There’s some people out there calling him “the best 14-year-old in the world” and he is rumored to be on his way to joining Manchester City in the near future.
He made his Union II debut today, and of course, the midfielder picked up an assist.
81’ Cavan Sullivan has his first Union II assist.
He sprung Sal Olivas with a long ball over the middle, and Olivas hit an 18-yard sizzler to the far corner for a 2-1 lead.#dooppic.twitter.com/hLTeDtpxii
— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) March 24, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: As Gregg Berhalter crafts his lineup, all eyes will be on whether he selects Gio Reyna. The young star came off the bench and forced an extra-time one-two punch, and it’s blatantly obvious the USMNT is better with Reyna on the field.
Berhalter vociferously defended Reyna from questions about his inclusion in the U.S. roster after his lack of playing time at Nottingham Forest. Whatever the issues at his club are, they haven’t translated over to the U.S. national team. He should start tonight, and if he doesn’t, questions need to be asked of the decision-makers.
MORE: Why Gregg Berhalter’s defense of Gio Reyna is a big moment in repairing their relationship
Berhalter: “I think I heard somewhere that someone asked ‘why did Gio get called into camp?'”
“Did you guys hear that?” Berhalter asks the room. “Anyone? I think he showed why tonight. Its clear he deserves to play on this team.”
Is that a direct shot at Jesse Marsch? 😳 #USMNT
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) March 22, 2024
USA vs Mexico lineups, team news
Fans have been clamoring for Gio Reyna to start this match after his introduction off the bench at halftime of the Jamaica match was an important injection of life, and he does just that, replacing Malik Tillman who simply didn’t have it in the semifinal. Tyler Adams also earns his first international start since the World Cup, entering for Yunus Musah, which is surprising given his clear minutes limit in the semifinal.
Sergino Dest is available after suspension in the semifinal, and his return is welcome as he replaces Joe Scally who was exceedingly poor against Jamaica. Gregg Berhalter has brought in the experienced Tim Ream at center-back, replacing either Miles Robinson.
After his brace against Jamaica, Haji Wright earns the start, with Folarin Balogun brought to the bench, still struggling to link up with his international teammates on the whole.
USA starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Turner (GK) — Dest, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson — McKennie, Adams — Weah, Reyna, Pulisic — Wright.
USA subs (12): Horvath (GK), Callender (GK), M. Robinson, McKenzie, Scally, Lund, Cardoso, Musah, Tillman, Aaronson, Pepi, Balogun.
Mexico head coach Jaime Lozano had a few things to consider after the scoreline in their win over Panama maybe betrayed some of their struggles. Panama out-passed and out-shot Mexico by significant margins, and El Tri were unable to dictate the tempo of the match even if they ran away as big winners.
He has brought Hirving Lozano back into the starting lineup after Chucky came off the bench for a half-hour in the semifinal. Uriel Antuna hasn’t exactly exactly impressed in recent years, but retains his place tonight as Julian Quinones is reportedly not fit to start, a blow after he scored his first international goal against Panama in the semifinal.
Mexico starting lineup (4-3-3): Ochoa (GK) — J. Sanchez, Montes, J. Vasquez, Gallardo — E. Sanchez, E. Alvarez, Chavez — Antuna, Martin, Lozano.
Mexico subs (12): Malagon (GK), J. Gonzalez (GK), Araujo, Arteaga, Orozco, Aguirre, Romo, Alvarado, C. Rodriguez, Pineda, Quinones, Gimenez.
How to watch USA vs Mexico
- Date: Sunday, Mar. 24, 2024
- Time: 8:15 p.m. local CT (9:15 p.m. ET / 6:15 p.m. PT)
- TV channel (English): None
- Streaming (English): Paramount+
- TV channel (Spanish): UniMas, TUDN
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Univision Now, TUDN app
CONCACAF English-language broadcast rights in the United States are owned by CBS Sports, who will air this USMNT match exclusively on Paramount+, where you can watch every match of the Nations League semifinals, finals, and third place match during this March international break. There is currently a FREE trial on offer to new subscribers.
The matches, including this one, will also be televised in Spanish on TUDN and UniMas, which is available to stream in the United States on Fubo, offering a FREE trial for new users.
MORE: Watch UEFA Champions League in the United States on Paramount+
