A shorthanded USMNT squad travels for the team’s first road match in Mexico for years as Mauricio Pochettino gets his first taste of this rivalry in a friendly on Tuesday evening.
USA has enjoyed recent success against their southern foes, but all of those positive results have come at home. They have not done well historically on Mexican soil, winning just once ever and without victory in a competitive match.
While there’s nothing tangible riding on this match, it will be a chance for players to show the new head coach how they fare in a hostile environment against a bitter rival. The U.S. is without a number of key players including Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie who were sent home early, while some others are out injured, so this match will be about who can fill those shoes.
Mexico, meanwhile, are in a similar boat, without many of their most potent forwards due to injury. El Tri will be primed to put to rest their recent winless streak against the United States, which has seen them lose their grip on CONCACAF supremacy.
The Sporting News is following the Mexico vs. USA match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Mexico vs. USA live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Mexico | – | – |
| USA | – | – |
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. local (10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT)
Location: Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)
Predicted lineups:
Mexico (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Malagon (GK) — 2. J. Sanchez, 3. Montes, 5. J. Vazquez, 27. Angulo — 4. E. Alvarez, 18. Guardado — 25. Alvarado, 17. Pineda, 21. Huerta — 9. Jimenez.
USA (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 22. Scally, 4. McKenzie, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 6. Musah, 14. Busio, 17. M. Tillman, 7. Morris — 11. Aaronson, 24. Sargent.
MORE: USMNT all-time record vs. Mexico | USMNT struggles in Mexico | USA vs. Mexico preview & predictions
Mexico vs. USA live updates, highlights from international friendly
15 mins to kickoff: In the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT won’t get many opportunities like this to face a rival in a hostile environment. Mauricio Pochettino is hoping his team can show a strong mentality to prove they are ready for games in this kind of setting.
Mentality will make the difference 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/x1LMlSZxKr
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) October 15, 2024
30 mins to kickoff: Good to see Mexico manager Javier Aguirre healthy enough to take his spot on the touchline tonight. He was apparently sick enough to go see a doctor last night, but has recovered to serve his coaching duties in this match.
At first there were reports that Aguirre went to the hospital, but according to the man himself, he had dinner with a doctor last night and didn’t feel well after, so the doctor invited him to his clinic for a checkup in the morning.
45 mins to kickoff: The Mexico lineup is in, and in a major surprise, 38-year-old Andres Guardado returns to the El Tri lineup for the first time since the 2022 World Cup. That has to have Mauricio Pochettino licking his chops.
1 hour to kickoff: The USMNT lineup is in, and Mauricio Pochettino has made as few changes as humanly possible: just one, with the departed Christian Pulisic dropping out and Malik Tillman entering. It appears to be a 4-4-2 for the visitors, or maybe even a 4-5-1, with Josh Sargent as the only true forward in the XI. Will Yunus Musah play on the wing?
1 hour 15 mins to kick: Incredibly, this match at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara will be just the second time for the USMNT playing in Mexico at a venue not named Estadio Azteca, and first since their very first meeting ever in 1957 at the Olympic Stadium, also in Mexico City. It’s a picturesque venue!
Sunset in Jalisco before El Tri v USMNT pic.twitter.com/f3y0xwpVon
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 16, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: After wearing their blues at home against Panama, the USMNT will go with their white kits tonight on the road in Mexico.
Road match threads ⬜️ pic.twitter.com/vCw3SACL61
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) October 15, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: The USMNT has only won once against Mexico south of the border, which came in the last road friendly back in 2012. The hero that day was Michael “The Fiscal” Orozco who scored with 10 minutes remaining to snatch a scrappy 1-0 victory.
August 15, 2012.
The last time we played a friendly in Mexico, Michael Orozco made history. pic.twitter.com/QgjREiCNF4
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) October 15, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: There isn’t much riding on this match from a competitive standpoint, but Mauricio Pochettino knows how precious each and every game in charge is, with little time to waste before the 2026 World Cup.
“That is our responsibility,” Pochettino said of achieving World Cup readiness and growing the sport in the United States. “It is a massive, massive responsibility. We need to build that confidence and trust that we can arrive in two years and be really competitive and feel proud about a sport that maybe wasn’t born here, but starts to belong here.”
Mexico vs. USA kickoff time
This international friendly kicks off from Estadio Akron on Tuesday, October 15 at 8:30 p.m. local time in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Here’s how that time translates across the time zones in North America:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Tue, Oct. 15 | 10:30 p.m. |
| Central Time | Tue, Oct. 15 | 9:30 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Tue, Oct. 15 | 8:30 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Tue, Oct. 15 | 7:30 p.m. |
Mexico vs. USA lineups, team news, starting 11
Mexico are weak up front, without striker Henry Martin and Santiago Jimenez who are both dealing with muscle injuries. That could lead Raul Jimenez to see the field, having somewhat of a revival this season at Fulham. Hirving Lozano is still frozen out of the squad, while Jesus Gallardo, Uriel Antuna, Luis Chavez, and Gerardo Arteaga were left off the roster.
Legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and midfielder Andres Guardado have been called back into the squad, but only the latter sees the field as the 38-year-old Guardado sees his first international appearance since the 2022 World Cup. Santiago Jimenez is the regular striker for El Tri, but boss Javier Aguirre could think about giving Raul Jimenez a go given his return to goal scoring form at Fulham this season.
Mexico starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Malagon (GK) — J. Sanchez, Montes, J. Vazquez, Angulo — Guardado, E. Alvarez — Alvarado, Pineda, Huerta — Jimenez.
Mexico subs (15): Ochoa (GK), Rangel (GK), Lira, Orozco, Huescas, B. Gonzalez, Romo, M. Ruiz, C. Rodriguez, Cordova, Vargas, Lainez, Vega, G. Martinez, Berterame.
There are a host of USMNT regulars absent for this October international break, making life difficult on Mauricio Pochettino in his first camp. Sergino Dest continues to recover from his ACL tear just before the summer, and Tyler Adams will return soon from his back injury but isn’t quite ready for international duty yet.
Chris Richards, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna, Johnny Cardoso, and Cameron Carter-Vickers are all missing due to injuries picked up prior to the international break, and Tim Weah withdrew from the squad as he’s not quite ready to return from his hamstring injury.
Add in that Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi and Marlon Fossey all returned to their European clubs for load management, while Zack Steffen left with a minor injury, and the squad is extremely thin heading to Mexico.
USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — Scally, McKenzie, Ream, A. Robinson — Musah, Busio, M. Tillman, Morris — Aaronson, Sargent.
USA subs (9): Schulte (GK), Horvath (GK), Trusty, M. Robinson, Lund, Tessmann, Zendejas, Wright, Vazquez.
Mexico vs. USA live stream, TV channel
- TV Channel (English): TNT
- Streaming (English): Sling, MAX
- TV Channel (Spanish): Univision, TUDN
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Univision NOW, TUDN app/website
As with all USMNT friendlies in the foreseeable future, this match will be televised in English on TNT, which can be streamed on Max and Sling. Check out our full guide and what sports Sling has to offer here.
The match is also televised in Spanish on Univision and TUDN, which are both available to stream on Fubo in the United States.
