Mexico to face Canada in tonight’s Concacaf Nations League semifinals

Mexico’s nationalist shot squad squares disconnected against Canada Thursday nighttime for the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) semifinals, a lucifer of sizeable value for manager Javier Aguirre and his squad.

El Tri tangles with the Reds astatine SoFi Stadium extracurricular Los Angeles with a travel to the CNL title crippled connected the line. The victor advances to Sunday’s last to look the victor of the Panama-USA semifinal contest, which volition beryllium played earlier Thursday afternoon.

The teams volition look disconnected Thursday nighttime astatine the SoFi Stadium successful Los Angeles. (Concacaf)

Mexico has reached 2 of the 3 erstwhile CNL finals, losing some times to squad USA. Canada has 1 CNL last connected its résumé, besides losing to the U.S.

Aguirre — successful his 3rd stint arsenic El Tri brag — would similar thing much than to travel location with the hardware since this mightiness beryllium the lone clip helium has a top-choice roster astatine his disposal until the 2026 World Cup.

This summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup coincides with the FIFA Club World Cup, and participating Liga MX sides Monterrey, León and Pachuca are permitted to adhd six reinforcements each. It is not inconceivable that nationalist squad players would beryllium fashionable targets.

As such, though a nonaccomplishment to Canada would not beryllium the decease knell for Aguirre, it could origin palpitations astatine Soccer Federation headquarters. Executives determination are hopeless for affirmative results up of a World Cup which Mexico volition co-host.

Historical dominance connected the wane?

Mexico has won 21 of 36 matches against Canada, losing conscionable 5 times, and El Tri has not mislaid a knock-out crippled to Les Rouges successful 25 years. In those 36 games, Mexico has outscored Canada 75-24.

But Mexico is nary longer the Concacaf giant. The U.S. sits supra El Tri successful the latest FIFA World rankings and Canada finished atop the astir caller Concacaf World Cup qualifying table.

In fact, Mexico is connected a three-game winless skid against Canada, including a stunning 2-1 nonaccomplishment to the Reds successful a November 2021 qualifier.

In the past gathering betwixt these North American rivals connected Sept. 10, 2024, Canada battled El Tri to a scoreless gully successful an entertaining, though chippy contest, that each squad believed it should person won.

And past year, Canada’s coach, the American Jesse Marsch, guided the Reds to a astonishment fourth-place decorativeness successful the 2024 Copa America, the champion finisher among Concacaf clubs.

Game notes

Thursday’s lucifer marks the archetypal clip Mexico and Canada conscionable successful the CNL Final Four, but it volition beryllium their seventh clash successful Concacaf tournaments. El Tri won 5 of the erstwhile six.

Mexico mightiness beryllium seen to person a flimsy vantage with respect to fittingness Thursday night.

Of Aguirre’s 23-man squad, 10 players are based successful Europe with 13 performing for LigaMX sides. On the different broadside of the pitch, 15 of Jesse Marsch’s players ply their commercialized successful Europe portion the remaining 8 play successful MLS, which conscionable kicked disconnected its season.

Head manager Javier Aguirre returned past twelvemonth for his 3rd spell astatine starring the Mexican men’s shot team. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)

European leagues are heading down the agelong tally of their seasons and Liga MX clubs person already played 12 games, but each MLS broadside has played conscionable 4 matches. As such, the 8 Canadians playing successful MLS mightiness not beryllium successful perfect game-shape conscionable yet.

Still, Canada boasts 2 stars with UEFA Champions League acquisition this season. Striker Jonathan David (Lille) and speedy wingback Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) are difference-makers.

Other cardinal contributors are midfield wide Stephen Eustaquio (Porto) and Cyle Larin (Mallorca). Eustaquio played concisely with Mexico’s Cruz Azul.

Mexico volition trust connected polished goalkeeping from Luis Malagón (América) and antiaircraft enactment from midfielder Edson Álvarez (West Ham) and center-back Johan Vásquez (Genoa).

Veteran striker Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) volition apt beryllium called upon to pb the onslaught with wingers César Huerta (Anderlecht), Alexis Vega (Toluca) and Roberto Alvarado (Chivas) tasked with generating offense.

With reports from Sports Illustrated, Futbol Total, El Financiero and Concacaf