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26 USMNT Moments, Past to Present: Dos a Cero
A rivalry between the United States and Mexico ignites a new era
This is 26 USMNT Moments: Past to Present, a U.S. Soccer content series that covers 26 defining moments in U.S. Men's National Team history. From inspired victories to stunning goals, and the stars and hidden heroes who made them possible, each chapter reminds us that our dreams on the pitch are worth chasing. Together, they’ve built toward the biggest moment yet: the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
As clouds of breath filled the night sky overlooking Columbus Crew Stadium, United States forward Earnie Stewart sealed Mexico’s fate, smashing home the Stars and Stripes' second, with the goal decorated in paper streamers. The strike sent the American supporters into a frenzy, the United States defeated Mexico 2-0. Fittingly, the “Dos a Cero” World Cup qualifying tradition was born on that gold night in Columbus on Feb. 28, 2001.
The match, which kicked off with a temperature of 28 degrees, began with a chorus of support from the American faithful, but things looked to go pear-shaped for the U.S. early on. Striker Brian McBride was forced off in the 15th minute after a head-to-head collision with Mexico’s Rafa Márquez which caused an enormous amount of swelling around his right eye. The veteran forward made way for Josh Wolff.
Then, just before halftime captain Claudio Reyna was also forced off with a groin strain. Clint Mathis entered in an attacking midfield role for the U.S.
Wolff and Mathis, a couple of Georgia boys who had just 12 caps between them going into the match, would link up for the game’s first goal early in the second half. Mathis pinged the ball from his own half to find Wolff in space, who scrambled past Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos far off his line, before slotting in the opening goal of the contest.
The U.S. played bravely and continued to frustrate El Tri throughout the second half, using the cold elements to outlast the visitors before capitalizing towards the end of the match. In the 87th minute, Wolff worked his way out of the corner, beating two Mexico defenders down the endline before centering for Stewart who one-timed his effort past Campos to make it 2-0, or “Dos a Cero.”
Brad Friedel against Mexico in 2001
After the match, United States Men’s National Team head coach Bruce Arena gave credit to his side for the way they fought despite the challenges thrown at them.
Wolff said this match served as a turning point for the squad against Mexico.
“It was the first time we got Mexico in a real pro-American environment, and that was certainly the beginning of a real movement in soccer in the United States…” Wolff said in 100 Years of Soccer in America. “It was loud, it was cold, and it was certainly everything Mexico didn’t want.”
Coming into this match, the United States had won the last two meetings between the sides. Before that point, the rivalry had been a one-sided affair with Mexico being the dominant eleven, leading the head-to-head matchups the past thirty years, 17-5-6.
Those matches in the early part of the century truly did flip the script in the USA-Mexico rivalry, with the USMNT owning a 19-11-8 record since 2000.
Starting at 1:30 am EST back home, the United States delivered another memorable match against Mexico, with the first from McBride, after the ball fell at his feet from a deflection. Forward Landon Donovan continued his exciting national career with the second.
The “Dos a Cero” moment would not have been possible without the show-stopping performance by United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who secured six saves, helping the USA advance to the quarterfinals.
The two nations met three years later in a World Cup qualifier at Columbus Crew Stadium. History would repeat itself in Columbus, on Sept. 3, 2005, as both goals from the Red,White and Blue came in the second half. The first goal was the result of a set piece that bounced off the post as midfielder Steve Ralston nodded home the opener.
Mexico’s Gerardo Galindo pressures Landon Donovan during the 2006 World Cup Qualifying match at Crew Stadium on September 3, 2005 (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The United States period of dominance over Mexico continued with a “Dos a Cero” victory in a friendly in Arizona. Likewise, “Dos a Cero” stayed the norm in Columbus for World Cup qualifying after the USA defeated Mexico 2-0 in 2009 and 2013.
In a back-and-forth first half in Columbus on Feb. 11, 2009, the United States would score at the stroke of halftime, provided by midfielder Michael Bradley’s instinctive finish from close distance.
Revisiting Columbus for another World Cup qualifier match against Mexico on Sept. 10, 2013, the American Outlaws and U.S supporters invited El Tri to Crew Stadium as they bounced in the stands to the tune of Thunderstruck prior to kickoff.
Fans unfurl a large U.S. flag after the USMNT scored their second goal against Mexico in the second half at Columbus Crew Stadium on September 10, 2013 (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
With the goals saved for the second half, forward Eddie Johnson got the party started for the Americans with a thundering header from a corner in the 49th minute of action. Breaking away from his defender, Donovan finished off the match after midfielder Clint Dempsey deflected the ball into his path.
Despite the United States 2-0 lead, arguably the most dramatic part of the match came in the 95th minute after Dempsey missed the penalty in an attempt to put the United States up 3-0. Instead, the “Dos a Cero” scoreline that would haunt El Tri took over Crew Stadium once again, fueling the fire in the USA vs. Mexico rivalry as the USA qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, sandwiched between these two matches came the United States' only victory in Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a 1-0 friendly triumph in August 2012.
From this point on, the rivalry would continue its roller coaster of results, with Mexico’s stronger performances leveling up the rivalry against the United States between 2014 and 2019, with four wins to the USA’s three.
In 2021, the United States-Mexico rivalry met today’s generation of United States stars. This year in particular introduced a resurgence of American dominance, one in which the USA beat Mexico three times in three different competitions, all in the span of seven months.
In June, one of the most dramatic matches between the two nations came in the inaugural Concacaf Nations League Final when Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie scored before Christian Pulisic slotted home a memorable extra time penalty kick. With seconds remaining, goalkeeper Ethan Horvath pulled off a stunning stop on Andres Guardado’s spot kick at the other end to confirm a 3-2 victory and the first major milestone for the next generation of American talent.
Two months later, the teams faced off in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Final. Both sides had chances, but as penalties loomed, it was Miles Robinson’s 117th-minute winner that gave the USA it second trophy win against Mexico in two months.
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie lift trophy after winning the Concacaf Nations League Final between United States and Mexico on June 6, 2021 in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
With the rivalry fiercely rekindled, the USA and Mexico met again for a World Cup qualifier back in Ohio, this time in Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Nov. 12, 2021. Like most “Dos a Cero” matches, the United States celebrations started in the second half after the introduction of American forward Christian Pulisic off the bench.
In the 74th minute, forward Tim Weah teed up Pulisic from close range, heading home the opener. Rushing towards the stands, Pulisic revealed the words ‘Man in the Mirror’ on his undershirt in reference to Mexico goalkeeper Gullermo Ochoa’s pre-match comments of “Mexico is the mirror in which the [U.S] wants to see itself.”
United States head coach Gregg Berhalter shared the state of the rivalry while showing acclaim to Mexico.
Competing again for a trophy in Concacaf on March 24, 2024, the United States added to its collection of silverware in the Nations League Final against Mexico with a familiar 2-0 win. Sizing up a shot from distance, midfielder Tyler Adams produced a screamer from 30 yards away to lead 1-0 headed into halftime.
Today, the United States and Mexico rivalry continues to supply moments of brilliance, fire and heartbreak. For Americans, the rivalry truly ignited on that bitterly cold night in Columbus 25 years ago. From that point, “Dos a Cero” was brought to life, providing unforgettable moments for USA fans in the years that followed, with hopes of many more to come.
Connor Mahoney, currently employed by Caesars Entertainment, is a freelance sports writer based in Indianapolis. He holds an MBA from Xavier University, where he also served as Director of Soccer Operations. He holds a degree in sports communication from the University of Indianapolis and his experience includes freelance coverage of college athletics and USL Championship side Indy Eleven.
