USA vs Mexico history: Who has all-time bragging rights between USMNT and El Tri?

The United States men's national soccer team, known as the USMNT, and Mexico's national team, El Tri, have a storied rivalry in international soccer. While the World Cup certainly lends drama to their clashes, it is their encounters outside the quadrennial tournament that often dominate the narrative.

The first meeting between the two teams occurred in Rome, Italy, during the 1934 World Cup qualifiers on May 24, 1934. Aldo Buff Donelli scored all of the American goals in a 4-2 victory. This marked the beginning of a rivalry where Mexico has historically held the upper hand, going unbeaten in 21 matches from 1937 to 1980, including three draws.

In recent years, the balance of power has shifted, with the USMNT currently leading the head-to-head record 23 wins to 14 draws and 20 losses. Leading scorers for both teams include Landon Donovan (6 goals for the US), Michael Bradley (5), and Christian Pulisic (4) for the U.S., and Salvador Reyes (7) for Mexico.

The rivalry boasts several memorable moments. A 2-0 victory in 2011 at Columbus Crew Stadium was replicated in South Korea four years later, a score line that became known as "Dos-a-Cero," meaning "2-0" in Spanish. This rallying cry has rallied American fans, who have yet to secure a victory over Mexico. However, in 2002 at the World Cup, the U.S. reached the Round of 16, while Mexico won Group G, culminating in a memorable Round of 16 clash at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.