Mexico vs. USA live score: USMNT result, updates from friendly in Mauricio Pochettino’s first road rivalry match

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 (2H)Goal scorersMexico2Jimenez (22′),
Huerta (49′)USA0–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 (Romo, 19′) — 25. Alvarado, 17. Pineda, 21. Huerta — 9. Jimenez.

USA (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 22. Scally, 12. M. Robinson, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson (Lund, 46′) — 6. Musah (Zendejas, 46′), 14. Busio (Tessman, 64′), 17. M. Tillman, 7. Morris — 11. Aaronson (Wright, 64′), 24. Sargent (Vazquez, 64′).

MORE: USMNT all-time record vs. Mexico | USMNT struggles in Mexico | USA vs. Mexico preview & predictions

Mexico vs. USA live updates, highlights from international friendly65th min: Chance, USA! The first opportunity for the USMNT in this match falls to none other than Kristoffer Lund, who makes a back-post run and is fed by a ball from deep. Yet the Palermo man can’t get the right contact on it, firing the ball towards goal with a one-touch redirect but sailing it wide.

62nd min: Orbelin Pineda wants a penalty after being dispossessed by Tim Ream on the edge of the six-yard box but the referee waves play on. He’s been extremely lenient tonight, but there was nothing in that challenge.

Thre more changes for Mauricio Pochettino see Brandon Vazquez, Haji Wright, and Tanner Tessman enter the match, replacing Josh Sargent, Gianluca Busio, and Malik Tillman.

57th min: The U.S. is still without a single notable attacking move. The broadcast confirms that Mark McKenzie was withdrawn from the starting lineup late due to a groin injury.

49th min: GOAL! MEXICO! Oh dear, a defensive calamity for the United States as they’re punished by the hosts for a 2-0 lead! Raul Jimenez is fed deep on the run one-on-one against Tim Ream, and it seems as if his former Fulham teammate had made a critical tackle to dispossess the Mexico striker and end the chance.

Yet Ream then inexplicably tries to dribble out of his own penalty area, and is tackled back by a tireless Jimenez who slides and taps the ball to Cesar Huerta. All it takes from there is a single sidestep by a defender and a simple finish!

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 16, 20242nd half kickoff: They’re back under way for the second half, and Mauricio Pochettino has made a pair of changes at the break.

Yunus Musah, who was stuck on the right flank for much of the opening 45 minutes, has been replaced by a more traditionally wide player in Alejandro Zendejas. Musah wasn’t terribly effective in the first half, but this may also be a move from Pochettino to protect a key player before he returns to club football in Europe.

That’s certainly the case for Antonee Robinson, who was also hauled off to be replaced by Kristoffer Lund.

USMNT had zero first-half shots for the first time in 25 games.

The previous time was also vs Mexico, in an April 2023 friendly, when the U.S. came from behind to draw 1-1.

— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) October 16, 2024HALFTIME: Mexico 1-0 USA

The United States will be thrilled that the opening 45 minutes has mercifully come to a close. They were completely overwhelmed in that half, out-shot by Mexico 12-0. While none of the Mexican efforts (from open play, at least) were of terribly great quality, it’s a fair representation that the hosts were in complete control of that game.

It’s not really the 12 shots for Mexico that speak as loudly as the zero for the United States, as there wasn’t even a single memorable attacking moment for the visitors to hang their hat on. Significant changes needed from Mauricio Pochettino at the break.

A pretty good summary of that 1st half between Mexico and the US pic.twitter.com/t3XXtnLJJG

— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) October 16, 202438th min: Chance, Mexico! Cesar Montes blazes a header just over the crossbar off a Mexico corner. It wouldn’t have counted in the end had it gone in, as the referee had blown for a foul, but it’s yet another half-chance for the hosts who have yet to relent in their drive.

37th min: Raul Jimenez comes up empty with a clunky bike attempt, as the ball simply bounces off his shin and back into play. It’s not a quality opportunity, but it is yet another reminder that the U.S. are bing well beaten at the moment. The hosts are in full control, not only in the lead and barreling forward repeatedly, but they also haven’t given the visitors a single look of their own.

34th min: Aidan Morris is booked for a tackle on Cesar Huerta. He may have earned the yellow card not for the foul itself but for a block of the quick restart which Mexico attempted.

31st min: The pitch is choppy, causing the ball to bobble a bunch. This makes it hard to judge the bounce and has resulted in a few awkward fouls for both sides.

27th min: Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre is yellow carded for giving the fourth official an absolute tongue lashing. Unclear what he’s upset about.

22nd min: GOAL! MEXICO! A gorgeous free-kick from Raul Jimenez beats Matt Turner and puts the hosts up 1-0! The chance came on a foul won by Jose Alvarado in a central area about 28 yards from goal, and Jimenez produces a brilliant set-piece that Turner can only get the tips of his fingers to, unable to keep it out.

The goal is Jimenez’s first international strike since a year and two days ago, and his first against the United States in 11 appearances! It’s also the first free-kick goal in this fixture since 1996.

Raúl Jiménez with a perfect free kick to give Mexico the 1-0 lead 🎯

Watch Mexico vs. USA live on TNT and Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/rja5yJviIY

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 16, 202419th min: Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre withdraws 38-year-old Andres Guardado to give their veteran legend one last send-off. Guardado, from Guadalajara, will finish his international career on 182nd international cap, the most in the nation’s history, and he exits for Luis Romo as the Estadio Akron crowd gives him a massive ovation and the hugs flow on the bench.

Andrés Guardado is subbed off in the 19th minute of his final 182nd and final Mexico match.

He was given an incredible ovation by the fans in his home city of Guadalajara 👏

Watch Mexico vs. USA live on TNT and Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/sBgH87ePba

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 16, 202417th min: To this point, the most notable thing to happen at Estadio Akron so far is the crowd has audibly revived the homophobic chant that has marred so many Mexico international matches in recent years.

The homophobic goalkeeper chant is audible in Guadalajara. It’s been done twice now, not by the entire stadium but a significant portion.

— Lizzy Becherano (@lizzy_becherano) October 16, 202411th min: The hosts have been the more intentional side so far, creating a few interesting opportunities in the attacking third but failing to find an opening on goal. The referee is letting them play so far, waving away a thumping challenge from Andres Guardada on Brenden Aaronson in midfield.

7th min: It’s been a very muted open to this match, as both sides just kick it around looking for openings, finding none.

Kickoff: They’re under way at Estadio Akron! A fringe roster for Mauricio Pochettino looks to make a bit of history and prove they can withstand the heat in Mexico against a hungry El Tri side.

There was a last-minute change to the USMNT starting lineup just five minutes before kickoff, as Miles Robinson replaces Mark McKenzie in the XI. Have to imagine there was a prematch injury involved in that.

Mexico vs. USA: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more15 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, 202430 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, 20241 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, 20241 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.

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) October 15, 20242 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 timeThis 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:

 DateKickoff timeEastern TimeTue, Oct. 1510:30 p.m.Central TimeTue, Oct. 159:30 p.m.Mountain TimeTue, Oct. 158:30 p.m.Pacific TimeTue, Oct. 157:30 p.m.Mexico vs. USA lineups, team news, starting 11Mexico 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. Just minutes before kickoff, Miles Robinson replaced Mark McKenzie in the starting lineup.

USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — Scally, M. Robinson, Ream, A. Robinson — Musah, Busio, M. Tillman, Morris — Aaronson, Sargent.

USA subs (9): Schulte (GK), Horvath (GK), Trusty, McKenzie, Lund, Tessmann, Zendejas, Wright, Vazquez.

Mexico vs. USA live stream, TV channelTV Channel (English): TNTStreaming (English): Sling, MAXTV Channel (Spanish): Univision, TUDNStreaming (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.

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