GLENDALE, Ariz. – For the 13 players previously uncapped entering fall camp for the U.S. Men’s National Team, USA-Mexico was a rivalry they watched on TV as soccer-hungry youth or heard about from others, including their more seasoned teammates.
For the first time, those players wore the badge themselves and experienced firsthand the intense battle that happens whenever these two Concacaf foes face each other on pitch. The latest edition of the series at State Farm Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3 featured all that a rivalry match should – a high-level of competition, a packed stadium in primetime, passionate fanfare and players giving it their all.
“It always means a little bit more when you have opportunity to play against your rival,” captain Tyler Adams said. “I don't think we had to describe what this game means to us in our history as a nation. But the guys that stepped in today and played massive roles. Everyone had an impact today, so it was great to see a total team performance like that.”
Even with plenty of Mexico jerseys in the stands, even going up against the 10th-ranked team in the world, even with just one or two caps to their names, the young USMNT players were not intimidated; facing a Round of 16 participant in FIFA World Cup 2026 led by Mexican soccer legend Rafael Márquez only added fuel to the USMNT’s fire.
And these young players in their first rivalry match played an important role in the USMNT’s 3-0 shutout victory, the team’s sixth win over Mexico since 2021.
Two of the three goal scorers on the night were teenagers. Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan, 18 and 17 years old, respectively, scored the first two goals of the evening for the United States, becoming the first pair of teenagers to score against Mexico in the same match.
For Hall, it was his third goal in three caps after the Red Bull New York midfielder scored in his debut on Sept. 26 against Peru. He followed up that memorable moment in the next match with the second-half equalizer against Chile on Sept. 29.
For Sullivan, his goal in the 62nd minute saw him alertly intercept a pass from Mexico’s goalkeeper and loft a shot into an empty net for his first international goal at the senior level. The emotional moment arrived just five days after the Philadelphia Union product celebrated his 17th birthday.
“If it wasn't so hype, I think I would have probably shed a tear,” Sullivan said. “It was pretty special. A huge shout out to the guys – the younger ones and the older ones – for running down and celebrating with me in that corner. That made my night.”
Julian Hall (left) and Sebastian Berhalter (center) chase Cavan Sullivan after Sullivan's goal against Mexico at State Farm Stadium (Photo by Taylor Banner/USSF)
USMNT goalkeeper Diego Kochen after the clean sheet vs. Mexico (Photo by Taylor Banner/USSF)
After Mexico owned the opening 15 minutes of the match, the U.S. was able to establish themselves more and grow into the game. Hall’s goal arrived in the 28th minute and, unlike the match against Chile, the U.S. did not concede an equalizer. The U.S. entered halftime against Mexico with a one-goal lead.
And in the second half, the USMNT expressed more control. The team created more promising chances and players combined even more fluidly than they did in the first. The U.S. stayed relentless in their pressure, especially with Mexico going down to 10 men after a red card to fullback Mateo Chávez. The hosts forced Mexico into two mistakes that led to goals.
The relentless mentality shown from the U.S. was consistent through full time and the lineup – goals from teenagers, goals from veterans, a cohesive defensive effort, back to front. All of it led to a complete team performance for the U.S., which speaks to what this camp has been like for the U.S. with a roster fully integrated and many different players making contributions.
The Mexico match was the third match this window that has seen all U.S. goals scored by a different player. So far in this camp, seven players have scored goals and five have recorded assists. Ten different players have contributed across the USMNT’s 11 goals.
As head coach Mauricio Pochettino pointed out when he announced his 28-man roster, every player will get the chance to contribute. For wins like the latest over Mexico, it takes a full team, and the full team came poised and ready against a historic rival.
“No matter what, if it's a pretty game, a dirty game, whatever it is, the guys are going to show up and keep fighting,” Sullivan said. “We’re pushing, no matter what, all 90 minutes. The mentality is top, and this is a really special team.”
