If you thought a USA-Mexico FIFA World Cup Qualifier couldn’t get any bigger, think again. The most anticipated match of the Hexagonal now has huge stakes attached, and the drama will unfold Sept. 10 in front of a capacity crowd in Columbus. Kickoff at Columbus Crew Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas and ESPN Deportes Radio.
A victory for the United States combined with a win or tie for Honduras at home against Panama would clinch passage for the MNT to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The U.S. sits in second place in the group with 13 points, one behind leaders Costa Rica. With its first victory away to Mexico in a World Cup Qualifier, Honduras is now in third place on 10 points. Mexico holds the fourth spot, one point ahead of Panama.
TOP SEVEN NOTES
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann added four players to the USA roster for the World Cup Qualifier against Mexico, bringing in defender Clarence Goodson and midfielders Joe Corona, Brad Davis and Jose Torres.
The United States will be without three players who are serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation: Jozy Altidore, Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron. In addition, Michael Bradley has been ruled out with a sprained left ankle and John Brooks has returned to Hertha Berlin.
The past three home World Cup qualifiers against Mexico have been held in Columbus, where the United States has posted three consecutive 2-0 victories.
The United States has never lost in nine games at Columbus Crew Stadium (6-0-3). The U.S. is undefeated (4-0-2) in six straight home qualifiers against Mexico, last losing in 1972.
Clint Dempsey earned his 100th cap in the game against Costa Rica. With his penalty kick conversion, he became the USA’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup Qualifying with 13 career goals.
Mexico enters the match with a new head coach, having installed Luis Fernando Tena following the 2-1 loss at home to Honduras on Sept. 6 and the subsequent dismissal of Jose Manuel de la Torre.
More than 9,000 tickets were allotted to the supporters’ club sections, which is twice as many as any game previously for the MNT.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Jose Torres (Tigres), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)
U.S. MNT 2013 RESULTS/SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Result/Time (ET)
U.S. goal scorers/TV
Venue
Jan. 29
Canada
0-0 T
–
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Feb. 6
Honduras*
1-2 L
Dempsey
Estadio Olimpico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras
March 22
Costa Rica*
1-0 W
Dempsey
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.
March 26
Mexico*
0-0 T
–
Estadio Azteca; Mexico City, Mexico
May 29
Belgium
2-4 L
Cameron, Dempsey
FirstEnergy Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio
June 2
Germany
4-3 W
Altidore, Dempsey (2), own goal
RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C.
June 7
Jamaica*
2-1 W
Altidore, Evans
National Stadium; Kingston, Jamaica
June 11
Panama*
2-0 W
Altidore, E. Johnson
CenturyLink Field; Seattle, Wash.
June 18
Honduras*
1-0 W
Altidore
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
July 5
Guatemala
6-0 W
Gomez, Donovan (2), Wondolowski, Goodson, Bedoya
Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego, Calif.
July 9
Belize^
6-1 W
Wondolowski (3), Holden, Bedoya, Donovan
JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.
July 13
Cuba^
4-1 W
Donovan, Corona, Wondolowski (2)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
July 16
Costa Rica^
1-0 W
Shea
Rentschler Field; East Hartford, Conn.
July 21
July 24
July 28
Aug. 14
Sept. 6
El Salvador^
Honduras^
Panama^
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Costa Rica*
5-1 W
3-1 W
1-0 W
4-3 W
1-3 L
Goodson, Corona, Johnson, Donovan, Diskerud
Johnson, Donovan (2)
Shea
E. Johnson, Altidore (3)
Dempsey (penalty)
M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, Md.
Cowboys Stadium; Arlington, Texas
Soldier Field; Chicago
Asim Ferhatovic Hase Stadium; Sarajevo
Estadio Nacional; San Jose, Costa Rica
Sept. 10
Mexico*
8 p.m.
ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 11
Jamaica*
6:30 p.m.
ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas
Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
Oct. 15
Panama*
10 p.m.
beIN SPORT
Estadio Rommel Fernandez; Panama City, Panama
*2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
^2014 CONCACAF Gold Cup
ROSTER NOTES
A total of four players on the U.S. roster are carrying yellow cards. Their next caution will result in a one-match suspension: Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Fabian Johnson and Jermaine Jones.
Dempsey and Omar Gonzalez are the only two players to have started all seven games in the Hexagonal.
Donovan returned to World Cup Qualifying action for the first time since June 12, 2012, the 1-1 draw in Guatemala, an absence spanning 10 matches.
He is the USA’s all-time leader in World Cup Qualifying appearances (38), and currently sits on 21 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in 2013. He owns the single-year point record of 22 set in 2007 (9 goals, 4 assists).
The match against Costa Rica marked Dempsey’s and Donovan’s first game together since June 12, 2012, a 1-1 tie with Guatemala
Michael Orozco started at right back against Costa Rica in his first WCQ appearance since Oct. 15, 2008.
Eddie Johnson leads all U.S. players with 14 appearances in 2013, and he has accumulated four goals and one assist. DaMarcus Beasley, who captained the team in the Gold Cup, has started the most games (13).
Howard has 31 career shutouts, one behind Tony Meola for second-most in team history (Kasey Keller has 47).
Howard has 50 career wins, second-most in U.S. history, and three behind Keller’s U.S. record.
Alejandro Bedoya, who recently transferred to Nantes in Ligue 1 in France, got on the scoresheet for the first time in his international career when he tallied in the 6-0 win against Guatemala on July 5 in San Diego.
Aron Johannsson earned his first World Cup Qualifying cap when he entered as a substitute against Costa Rica. Born in Mobile, Ala., he completed his change of association from Iceland in the day before appearing as a substitute in the 63rd minute of the 4-3 win against Bosnia.
With two straight clean sheets in March, Brad Guzan now has five shutouts in seven matches played in qualifying in his career, posting a 4-1-2 record.
Guzan was voted the 2013 Aston Villa Player of the Year by both players and supporters.
Leagues from eight different countries are represented on the roster.
Five players on the roster are from Liga MX: Beasley, Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, Orozco and Jose Torres.
Castillo and U.S. assistant coach Martin Vasquez are the only two players in history to represent both the United States and Mexico at the international level.
Castillo was granted a change of association request by FIFA in 2009 to represent the United States. Corona, Orozco and Torres – all dual citizens – chose to represent the USA.
USA vs. MEXICO
Overall, the USA is 16-32-13 all-time in international competition against Mexico and 5-15-6 in World Cup Qualifying.
The USA’s 61 previous meetings against Mexico are the most against any country in U.S. Soccer’s history.
Since 2000, the USA has posted an 11-5-4 record against Mexico, including a 9-2-3 record at home during that span.
A total of eight players on the current roster appeared in the 0-0 draw on March 26 at Estadio Azteca, the USA’s second tie in qualifying on Mexican soil. The lineup: Guzan; Cameron, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley; Bradley, Edu; Zusi (Shea, 82), Dempsey (capt.), Gomez (Davis, 71); Altidore (Johnson, 55)
The clean sheet marked Brad Guzan’s fifth shutout in seven-career World Cup Qualifying matches
Brad Davis, who was a late addition from Jurgen Klinsmann to the roster, made his first World Cup Qualifying appearance in that game.
Landon Donovan has scored five career goals against Mexico, including his first career international goal and the insurance strike in the 2-0 win in the Round of 16 of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Overall, he has played 15 times against Mexico.
DaMarcus Beasley has his own bit of history in Columbus, scoring the second goal of the USA’s 2-0 win against Mexico on Sept. 3, 2005, that put the United States through to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Four players on the roster started in the last qualifier against Mexico here in Columbus, the 2-0 win that kicked off the Hexagonal: Beasley, Dempsey, Donovan and Tim Howard.
Howard is 4-1-2 lifetime against Mexico, including the 1-0 win on Aug. 15, 2012, the USA’s first on Mexican soil.
Michael Orozco tallied the historic game-winner, his only goal with the MNT.
With that victory, the USA is now 1-23-1 all-time in Mexico.
Dempsey and Mexico defender Carlos Salcido are former teammates at Fulham.
The Klinsmann era began when the United States and Mexico played to a 1-1 draw on Aug. 10, 2011, in Philadelphia. Robbie Rogers scored a 73rd-minute equalizer for the U.S.
The biggest meeting in series history was the USA’s 2-0 victory in the Round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea on June 17. Brian McBride and Donovan scored goals in that match.
CONCACAF FINAL ROUND STANDINGS AND SCHEDULE
Team
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
Pts.
Costa Rica
7
4
1
2
10
4
+6
14
USA
7
4
2
1
8
6
+2
13
Honduras
7
3
3
1
8
8
0
10
Mexico
7
1
1
5
4
4
0
8
Panama
7
1
2
4
5
7
-2
7
Jamaica
7
0
4
3
2
8
-6
3
Sept. 6
Costa Rica 3, USA 1
Mexico 1, Honduras 2
Panama 0, Jamaica 0
Sept. 10
USA v. Mexico 8 p.m. ET
Jamaica v. Costa Rica 8 p.m. ET
Honduras v. Panama 9 p.m. ET
IN THE CENTENNIAL RECORD BOOK
The U.S. MNT currently holds a record plus-24 goal differential in 2013. The USA has outscored its opponents 44-20 this year, ranking ahead of the USA’s 2000 campaign when the squad outscored its opponents 34-11 (plus-23 goal differential).
The USA is averaging 2.44 goals per game in 2013, which ranks higher than the current record of 2.14 set in 2008.
With the win against El Salvador on July 21, the MNT collected double-digits in victories in a single year for the eighth time in team history.
Now with 36 career goals, Dempsey is second on the USA’s all-time scoring list behind Donovan.
Following the win against Germany on June 2, the U.S. is now 2-1-1 under Klinsmann against teams ranked in the top 10 in the world.
The first ever victory in Jamaica in World Cup Qualifying added to the list of firsts during Klinsmann’s tenure that include the win against four-time World Cup champion Italy and the road win against Mexico at Estadio Azteca.
BY THE NUMBERS:
1: U.S. player on the roster who scored his first international goal in 2013 (Alejandro Bedoya)
3: Consecutive wins at home against Mexico in World Cup Qualifying
4: U.S. players on the roster with at least 80 caps
5: U.S. players on the roster competing in Liga MX
5: Career goals for Landon Donovan against Mexico
8: Countries with leagues represented on the U.S. roster
24: U.S. MNT wins under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: On July 29, 2011, Jurgen Klinsmann became the 35th coach in the history of the U.S. Men’s National Team. The former World Cup and European Champion has been at the helm for two years. Here’s a look at the program’s achievements so far.
Overall, Klinsmann has a 24-9-6 record.
Led the MNT to a 12-game winning streak, the longest in program history.
The U.S. finished 2012 with a 9-2-3 record, good for a .750 winning percentage and equaling the best ever winning percentage.
The team won six straight games en route to capturing the 2013 Gold Cup, during which they scored a record 20 goals.
Committed to challenging the group against the best, under Klinsmann the United States has a 2-1-1 record against teams ranked in the top 10 in the world. With Klinsmann at the helm, the U.S. has collected four historic victories:
Beating four-time World Cup champion Italy for the first time ever
Earning the first win against Mexico on Mexican soil
Defeating Jamaica on the road for the first time in World Cup Qualifying.
Topping second-ranked Germany in U.S. Soccer’s Centennial Celebration Match
By the numbers:
8: Wins in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
12: Consecutive wins, a team record
15: Clean sheets
24: Wins
40: Goals allowed
71: Goals scored
MORE IN THE JURGEN KLINSMANN FACT FILE: Jurgen Klinsmann is in his third year and second full calendar year in charge of the U.S. Men’s National Team. Below are some of his past accomplishments as a player and coach.
Klinsmann’s U.S. coaching debut was a 1-1 draw against Mexico on Aug. 10, 2011, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. During Klinsmann’s abbreviated 2011 tenure, opponents outscored the USA by a 7-5 margin. The USA’s two victories during the Klinsmann era in 2011 include a 1-0 win against Honduras (Oct. 8) and a 3-2 victory against Slovenia (Nov. 15).
Klinsmann was named the Germany National Team manager in 2004 and guided Germany to a 20-6-8 record and a third-place finish in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He earned Coach of the Year honors in Germany, and two years later, he took over the head coaching position at Bayern Munich.
As a player, Klinsmann played 17 club seasons from 1981 to 1998 with the following teams: Stuttgarter Kickers (1981-84), VfB Stuttgart (1984-89), Internazionale (1989-92), Monaco (1992-94), Tottenham Hotspur (1994-95, 97-98), Bayern Munich (1995-97) and Sampdoria (1997-98). During that time, he scored 226 goals in 506 appearances. He was named German Player of the Year in 1988 and 1994 and FWA Footballer of the Year in 1995.
Klinsmann earned 108 caps with the German National Team, scoring 47 goals. He participated in three World Cups (1990, 1994 and 1998) and won the 1990 World Cup.
Klinsmann was born on July 30, 1964, in Goppingen, Germany.
IN FOCUS: MEXICO
Mexican Football Federation (Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación A.C.)
Founded: 1927 (Joined FIFA in 1929)
Head Coach: Luis Fernando Tena
Best World Cup Finish: Quarterfinals (1970, 1986)
Leading Capwinner: Claudio Suarez (178)
Top Scorer: Jared Borgetti (46)
MEXICO UPDATE
Following the 2-1 loss at home to Honduras, the Mexican Federation fired head coach Jose Manuel de la Torre. He is replaced by his assistant Luis Fernando Tena, who guided the Mexico U-17 team to the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup title.
Now 1-1-5 in the final round, Mexico has failed to get a victory at home in four matches.
Mexico has posted four scoreless draws in FIFA World Cup Qualifying. Outside of the USA match on March 26, Mexico has 0-0 ties against Jamaica (Feb. 6), Panama (June 7) and Costa Rica (June 11).
Gerardo Torrado is serving a one-match suspension after picking up his second yellow card of the campaign during the loss to Honduras on Saturday night.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez leads all Mexican scorers with five goals from 13 matches in this qualifying cycle.
Mexico has allowed four goals in the final round, second-fewest ahead of Jamaica. In the four previous final rounds, the fewest goals Mexico scored was 16.
Conversely, Mexico’s four goals allowed are tied for fewest in the final round with Costa Rica.
Hernandez and Andres Guardado are the only two to play in all 13 qualifiers this cycle for Mexico.
MEXICO ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jesus Corona, Alfredo Talavera, Jonathan Orozco
DEFENDERS (7): Severo Meza, Hiram Mier, Francisco Rodriguez, Diego Reyes, Hector Moreno, Carlos Salcido, Jorge Torres Nilo
MIDFIELDERS (5): Jesus Zavala, Hector Herrera, Christian Gimenez, Fernando Arce, Andres Guardado
FORWARDS (7): Giovani Dos Santos, Javier Aquino, Angel Reyna, Damian Alvarez, Oribe Peralta, Javier Hernandez, Raul Jimenez
LAST TIME
On the field for USA:
Sept. 6, 2013 – Estadio Nacional – San Jose, Costa Rica – 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Final Round
Costa Rica 3 Johnny Acosta 2 , Celso Borges 9, Joel Campbell 75
USA 1 Clint Dempsey 41 (pen)
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 21-Michael Orozco, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 5-Matt Besler, 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 20-Geoff Cameron, 13-Jermaine Jones; 19-Graham Zusi (18-Eddie Johnson, 58), 10-Landon Donovan, 23-Fabian Johnson (17-Jozy Altidore, 71); 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.) (9-Aron Johannsson, 90)
Substitutions Not Used: 12-Brad Guzan, 22-Nick Rimando, 2-Edgar Castillo, 6-Michael Parkhurst, 11-Alejandro Bedoya, 14-Kyle Beckerman, 15-John Brooks, 16-Mix Diskerud, 4-Michael Bradley
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
CRC: 1-Keylor Navas; 4-Michael Umaña, 3-Giancarlo Gonzalez, 2-Johnny Acosta, 8-Bryan Oviedo; 16-Christian Gamboa, 5-Celso Borges, 17-Yeltsin Tejeda (22-Jose Miguel Cubero, 73), 7-Christian Bolaños (14-Randall Brenes, 86); 12-Joel Campbell, 10-Bryan Ruiz (9-Alvaro Saborio, 80)
Substitutions Not Used: 18-Patrick Pemberton, 6-Oscar Duarte, 13-Carlos Johnson, 15-Junior Diaz, 20-Diego Calvo, 21-Victor Nuñez, 19-Mauricio Castillo, 11-Michael Barrantes
Head coach: Jorge Luis Pinto
On the field for Mexico
Sept. 6, 2013 – Estadio Azteca –Mexico City, Mexico – 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Final Round
Mexico 1 Oribe Peralta 5
Honduras 2 Jerry Bengston 63, Carlo Costly 65
MEX: Jose de Jesus Corona, Carlos Salcido, Diego Reyes Rosales, Severo Meza, Hector Moreno, Fernando Arce, Gerardo Torrado (Javier Hernandez, 69), Christian Gimenez (Andres Guardado, 56) Angel Reyna Martinez (Javier Aquino Carmona, 65), Giovani Dos Santos, Oribe Peralta
Substitutions Not Used: Alfredo Talavera, Francisco Rodriguez, Jorge Torres, Damián Alvarez, Raul Jimenez
Head Coach: Jose Manuel de la Torre
HON: Noel Valladares, Maynor Figueroa, Victor Bernardez, Emilio Izaguirre, Brayan Beckeles, Wilson Palacios, Oscar Boniek Garcia (Edgar Alvarez, 60), Roger Espinoza, Luis Miguel Garrido, Andy Najar (Jerry Bengtson, 45), Carlos Costly (Marvin Chavez, 79)
Substitutions Not Used: Donis Escober, Kevin Hernandez, Osman Chavez, Juan Pablo Montes, Juan Garcia, Jerry Palacios, Jorge Aaron Claros, Georgie Welcome, Nery Olvin Medina Norales
Head Coach: Luis Suarez
Vs. Mexico
March 26, 2013 – Estadio Azteca –Mexico City, Mexico – 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Final Round
Mexico 0
USA 0
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 20-Geoff Cameron, 4-Omar Gonzalez, 14-Matt Besler, 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 4-Michael Bradley, 6-Maurice Edu; 19-Graham Zusi (11-Brek Shea, 82), 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.), 9-Herculez Gomez (13-Brad Davis, 71); 17-Jozy Altidore (18-Eddie Johnson, 55)
Substitutions Not Used: 2-Tony Beltran, 5-Kyle Beckerman, 10-Joe Corona, 12-Nick Rimando, 15-Justin Morrow, 16-Sacha Kljestan, 21-Clarence Goodson, 22-Sean Johnson, 23-Terrence Boyd
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
MEX: 1-Guillermo Ochoa (capt.); 13-Severo Meza, 16-Diego Reyes, 15-Hector Moreno, 20-Jorge Torres Nilo (8-Angel Reyna, 72), 17-Jesus Zavala, 3-Carlos Salcido, 11-Javier Aquino (9-Omar Bravo, 81), 18-Andres Guardado, 14-Javier Hernandez, 10-Giovani Dos Santos
Substitutions Not Used: 4-Hugo Ayala, 5-Carlos Alberto Peña, 6-Gerardo Torrado, 7-Hector Herrera, 12-Jesus Corona, 19-Jonny Magallon, 21-Jesus Molina, 22-Raul Jimenez, 23-Alfredo Talavera
Head coach: Jose Manuel de la Torre