SOCCER
Damarcus Beasley: "Until Mexico beats the USMNT in a World Cup we are up 1-0"
The former United States men’s national team player made a valid point that the only time they met in a FIFA World Cup they sent Mexico home.
The soccer rivalry between Mexico and the United States grew this summer. The USMNT defeated ‘El Tri’ in two back-to-back finals, first the CONCACAF Gold Cup and then Nations Leagues Cup, in its inaugural edition. The ‘golden generation’ of the United States have stepped up to the challenge and they have started to win trophies.
USMNT better than Mexico
According to former United States international Damarcus Beasley, the United States have always had the edge over Mexico. His point is that when they met for the first time in an elimination match during a World Cup, the US sent Mexico home.
This occurred 19 years ago, during the second round of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea. In this first encounter, the USMNT defeated ‘El Tri’ 2-0 with Brian McBride and Landon Donovan scoring the winning goals on 17 June 2002. This was the biggest match of the 68-year rivalry and the United States advanced to the quarter finals to face Germany.
“Mexico is a team that plays very good soccer and we [USMNT] have a big rivalry against them. I remember when we played against them during the 2022 World Cup and that was one of the biggest highlights of my career. To beat your biggest rival… there is nothing better than that. So until they don’t beat us in a World Cup, we are up 1-0,” said Beasley.