After clinching a berth in the pivotal tournament semifinals with two victories to open the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, the U.S. U-23 men’s national team will aim to lock up the top spot in Group A against Mexico Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; FS1, TUDN).
Regardless of result, the USA will play in the semifinals on Sunday for a spot in the 2020 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The USA used a second-half surge to power past Dominican Republic in its second match, scoring four goals after the break to secure its place in the semifinals. The U-23 USMNT will look to carry that momentum into its clash with archrival Mexico, which will be playing on home soil and also won its first two matches.
The U.S. is 2-0-1 vs. Mexico at Olympic qualifying since it became an Under-23 competition in 1992.
All-time, the USA is 4-5-3 all-time vs. Mexico at Concacaf Olympic qualifying. That includes two matches Mexico forfeited in 1980 qualifying after fielding professional players, which was not permitted at that time.
The USA and Mexico qualified automatically for this tournament from the North America region.
Mexico named 10 players to its roster who were born in 1997, seven born in 1998, two born in 1999 and one born in 2002.
All 20 of Mexico’s players compete domestically in Liga MX, including six from Chivas Guadalajara. The club plays its home games at Estadio Akron, one of two venues for Olympic qualifying.
Defenders Alan Mozo and Johan Vasquez play with U-23 USMNT midfielder at Sebastian Saucedo at UNAM Pumas.
Head coach Jamie Lozano leads Mexico. He had a long playing career in Liga MX, mostly with Pumas. Lozano made 34 senior appearances with El Tri and took the helm of the Mexico U-23s after leading Mexican club Queretaro and spending time coaching in the UNAM and Queretaro academies.
