GLENDALE (Oct. 2, 2026) – The U.S. Men's National Team will take on its longtime rival, Mexico, tomorrow in Glendale, Arizona, in the penultimate match of the team's fall international schedule. The matchup renews one of the sport's most storied rivalries, a series that dates back to 1934 and has produced decades of memorable moments, fierce competition, and regional pride. With another passionate crowd expected, the match offers the U.S. internationals – young and veteran - a chance to test itself against its most familiar and demanding opponent.
The “Duel in the Desert” takes place Oct. 3 in Glendale, Ariz. at State Farm Stadium. Kickoff from the home of the Arizona Cardinals is 7 p.m. MT (10 p.m. ET) and will be broadcast on TNT, HBO Max, Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock. [TICKETS]
The match will be carried live on radio as Westwood One Sports delivers English language commentary while longtime partner Fútbol de Primera has the Spanish language call.
Fans can follow the USMNT on X (@USMNT), Instagram (@USMNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 2/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 20/0), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub/DEN; 1/0), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; 1/0)
DEFENDERS (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC/ENG; 2/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 45/3), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP; 24/3), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; 1/0), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union; 2/0), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 41/4), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 60/5), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 42/3), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 12/1), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union; 2/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth/ENG; 60/2), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 2/1), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough/ENG; 20/4), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace/ENG; 1/0), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York; 2/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 48/1), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution; 2/0), Gio Reyna (RC Strasbourg Alsace/FRA; 45/10), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 37/6)
FORWARDS (5): Cole Campbell (SV Elversberg/GER; 0/0), Damion Downs (St. Louis City SC; 7/0), Justin Ellis (Orlando City SC; 1/1), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; 2/2), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 2/0)
BACK TO BACK
The USMNT’s 4-2 victory over Chile marked its second-consecutive match scoring four goals, following the team’s 4-1 victory against Peru in Orlando. The matches against Peru and Chile mark the most recent time the U.S. has scored at least four goals in consecutive matches, which is the most combined goals ever against non-Concacaf opponents. The previous record against non-Concacaf opponents was seven combined goals against Lichtenstein and Poland in 1990. During the 2023 Gold Cup group stage matches the U.S. recorded its most recent consecutive four goal performances with two 6-0 victories against Concacaf opponents St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago. The match also featured a goal from Julian Hall, which made him the first player to score in his first two caps for the USMNT since Patrick Agyemang in 2025 against Venezuela and Costa Rica.
BERHALTER IN BUSINESS
Midfielder Sebastain Berhalter became the first USMNT player since Landon Donovan in 2013 to record a goal and assist in consecutive matches, while also being the youngest to accomplish the feat. Berhalter came off the bench against Peru, providing an assist to Julian Hall in the 72nd minute, before ending the match with a 90th minute strike from outside the box. The midfielder followed up that performance with a start against Chile, in which he scored the opener in the 37th minute, before assisting Chris Richards on the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute. Since the end of 2025, Berhalter has appeared in 13 consecutive matches for the USMNT. In 2026, Berhalter has registered the most USMNT goal contributions with four goals and two assists in total.
Emerging as a leader within the team, head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised Berhalter for his recent performances: “He is a player that the commitment, the energy, everything he does is for the badge, for the national team, for the teammates - of course for him, but he is a very good role model player for the players that arrive the first time or maybe are watching from home, in the way we expect the players to behave.”
DUEL IN THE DESERT
Saturday’s matchup will be the 80th meeting of the storied USA-Mexico rivalry. Since 2021, the U.S, holds a 5W-2L-2D advantage, including victories in the 2021 and 2024 editions of the Concacaf Nations League Finals as well as the 2021 Gold Cup championship match. Most recently, the teams met in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Final, a 2-1 win for the visitors. Serving as the USA’s most frequent opponent, the all-time series currently stands at 24W-38L-17D across 92 years of competition. The first iteration of the rivalry was a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 1934, a 4-2 defeat in Rome, Italy. The USA and Mexico have met at least one time throughout the past 16 years, excluding 2020. Mexico is currently ranked 10th in the world.
In the most famous encounter between the U.S. and Mexico, the USMNT defeated El Tri by a scoreline of 2-0 to eliminate them in the Round of 16 during the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea Republic. Led by goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan, the familiar phrase “Dos a Cero” was firmly solidified American in history, following two previous 2-0 results against Mexico in 2000 and again in 2001. Since 2000, the U.S. has a 19W-11L-8D record against Mexico.
GOOD TIMES IN GLENDALE
The sides have met in Arizona on three separate occasions, with the U.S. undefeated in all three encounters going 1W-0L-2D. The most recent matchup in Glendale resulted in a 1-1 draw on April 19, 2023, with the U.S. goal coming from Jesús Ferreira. The USMNT holds a 3W-1L-2D record overall at State Farm Stadium. The first encounter came on Feb. 7, 2007, in a 2-0 victory with goals from Jimmy Conrad and Landon Donovan to clinch the first Dos a Cero in Glendale.
ROSTER NOTES
- The roster has an average age of 22 years, 319 days. The 28-player squad also averages 17 caps.
- With 60 caps apiece, Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson are the most experienced players on the roster, followed by Yunus Musah (48), Sergiño Dest (45), Gio Reyna (45), Miles Robinson (42), Chris Richards (41) and Malik Tillman (37).
- Six players on the roster featured in the USMNT’s most recent encounter with Mexico on July 6, 2025, in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Damion Downs, Alex Freeman, Matt Freese, Chris Richards, Malik Tillman.
- Three players on the roster have scored against Mexico: Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna and Chris Richards.
- Since 2021, the U.S, holds a 5W-2L-2D advantage, including victories in the 2021 and 2024 editions of the Concacaf Nations League Finals as well as the 2021 Gold Cup Final.
- Six players on the roster were part of the USMNT’s most recent victory against Mexico on March 24, 2024, in the Concacaf Nations League Final: Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Malik Tillman
- The all-time series currently stands at 24W-38L-17D across 92 years of competition.
- The USA-Mexico match will be a FIFA/Coca-Cola top-20 ranked matchup with the U.S. in 16th and Mexico in 10th.
- The sides have met in Arizona on three separate occasions with the U.S. undefeated in all three encounters going 1W-2D-0L.
- The USMNT holds a 3W-1L-2D record overall at State Farm Stadium.
- The lineup against Chile was the team’s youngest under Pochettino and also the youngest XI since Jan. 25, 2023, vs. Serbia.
- The roster features two players in the top 10 youngest USMNT players to score a goal. At 17 years, 131 days, Mathis Albert became the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history after his goal against Chile. Julian Hall became the eighth youngest at 18 years and 189 days following his goal against Peru.
- Julian Hall’s goal against Chile, makes him the first player to score in his first two caps for the USMNT since Patrick Agyemang in 2025 against Venezuela and Costa Rica.
- Sebastian Berhalter leads the USMNT with six goal contributions in 2026.
- Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson both earned their 60th cap against Chile, while Robinson captained the team for the first time.
- The match against Chile represents the USMNT’s second consecutive match scoring four goals with four different goalscorers
- Six players made their first start against Chile: Chris Brady, Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Frankie Westfield.
- After entering the match as a substitute, Alex Freeman made his 23rd consecutive USMNT appearance dating back to June 15, 2025, in a 5-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago.
- Brian Schwake earned his first cap, entering the match against Chile as a substitute.
- The roster now features one remaining uncapped player in Cole Campbell.
- Thirteen players on this roster return from the squad that took part in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Twelve players represent nine different Major League Soccer clubs. Philadelphia Union lead the way with three players, along with two apiece from New England Revolution and Red Bull New York. Chicago Fire, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City SC, Nashville SC, New York City FC and St. Louis City SC each provide one player.
- Sixteen players come from European clubs, with six from England, three from Germany, and one apiece from Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland and Spain.
- Twenty players on the roster took part in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy or MLS NEXT, with 17 coming through the MLS Academy ranks: Mathis Albert (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Berhalter (Columbus Crew), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), George Campbell (Atlanta United), Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Alex Freeman (Weston FC, Orlando City), Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Diego Kochen (Weston FC), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Gio Reyna (New York City FC), Miles Robinson (FC Boston Bolts), Chris Richards (FC Dallas), Brian Schwake (Sockers FC), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union) and Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union).
IN FOCUS: MEXICO
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Padilla (Athletic Club/ESP; 0/0), Raúl Rangel (Guadalajara/MEX; 20/0), Óscar García (Club León/MEX; 1/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Víctor Guzmán (Monterrey/MEX; 7/1), Mateo Chávez (AZ Alkmaar/NED; 13/1), Everardo López (Toluca/MEX; 4/0), Diego Campillo (Guadalajara/MEX; 2/0), Johan Vásquez (Genoa/ITA; 51/3), Jorge Sánchez (Atlas/MEX; 64/3), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca/MEX; 128/3), Israel Reyes (Club América/MEX; 39/2)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Denzell García (FC Juárez/MEX; 4/0), Jeremy Márquez (Cruz Azul/MEX; 2/0), Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid/ESP; 11/0), Álvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis/ESP; 9/1), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens/GRE; 96/12), Luis Romo (Guadalajara/MEX; 68/5), Érik Lira (Cruz Azul/MEX; 30/0), Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana/MEX; 13/1), Santiago Sandoval (Guadalajara/MEX; 1/0), Hugo Camberos (Guadalajara/MEX; 1/0), Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow/RUS; 47/5
FORWARDS (5): Isaías Violante (Club América/MEX; 3/0), Germán Berterame (Inter Miami CF;11/2), Armando González (Olympiacos/GRE; 9/1), Santiago Giménez (FC Porto/POR; 52/6), Hirving Lozano (LA Galaxy; 76/18), Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara; 75/5)
SWEET SIXTEEN
Joining with the U.S. as one of the host countries during FIFA World Cup 2026, Mexico had an impactful tournament, playing two group stage and both knockout matches at the Estadio Azteca. After a strong result against Ecuador and an inspired effort against England in the knockout rounds, Mexico vaulted up to 10th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Rankings.
MARQUEZ IN MEXICO
Mexican legend Rafa Marquez became the head coach of Mexico on July 8, 2026, following the team’s elimination from FIFA World Cup 2026. Prior to that, Marquez served as assistant coach for the national team beginning in 2024. Prior to joining the Mexico setup, Marquez worked as manager for Barça Atlétic.
A heralded player in Mexican history, the former defender made 148 appearances for his country while scoring 17 goals from 1997 to 2018. Marquez competed in five World Cups for the Mexican national team: 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018.
MLS CONNECTION
The Mexico roster features two players who apply their trade in MLS, forwards Germán Berterame and Hirving Lozano. Berterame plays for Inter Miami, while Lozano is at the LA Galaxy. Lozano is one of the most senior players on the roster with 76 appearances and a team-high 18 goals for Mexico in his international career.
