Mexico, USA Struggle In Pre-Gold Cup Friendlies

The Gold Cup kicks off next Saturday at the SoFi Stadium with the tournament providing the last real competitive chance for the already qualified hosts – Canada, Mexico and USA – to test their 2026 World Cup preparations. At the weekend there were mixed fortunes for all three in pre-Gold Cup friendlies against European opposition.

Canada were the only team to win with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine, while Mexico last to Switzerland 2-0 and the USA threw away a lead against Turkey to go down 2-1.

The US men’s team under Mauricio Pochettino have now had three losses in a row.

Having lost without seeming to put up much of a fight in their Nations Leagues semi-final and third place play-offs against Panama and Canada in March, a new look and reshaped team (they are missing seven players due to Club World Cup and ‘rest-required’ reasons) started fast against the Turks.

Houston Dynamo’s Jack McGlynn scored a spectacular first-minute curler to give the US the lead, but it was thrown away by two calamitous defensive errors.

First, Johnny Cardoso hit a scrambled defensive pass directly into Arda Güler, with the Real Madrid youngster only having to tap the ball past Matt Freese for a 24th-minute equalizer.

Three minutes later, a poor clearance from Miles Robinson gave the ball to Kerem Aktürkoğlu who buried from close range to make it 2-1.

Turkey were then content to sit back and absorb the very little penetration the US could muster. Pochettino has a lot of work to do with a team that is struggling to find an identity or cutting edge under his leadership.

Mexican defence stands off

Mexico, who at the current Gold Cup Champions and who won their first Nations League in March, faced a good Swiss team who had control from the start. Not known for their high scoring ability, the Swiss put four past the Mexicans.

Switzerland took the lead in the 20th minute when Ricardo Rodriguez sent a deep pass to Breel Embolo, who fired past goalkeeper Raul Rangel.

Santaigo Gimenez brought Mexico level with a 51st minute header but the Swiss restored their advantage 13 minutes later with Zeki Amdouni side-footing home from close range.

Dan Ndoye made it 3-1 firing home from a tight angle.Angel Sepulveda pulled on back but as Mexico looked for an equaliser, the Swiss hit them on the break with Rieder providing the finish with a chip from the edge of the box.

Mexico next face Turkey on Tuesday in North Carolina while Switzerland face the USA in Nashville.

In contrast Canada looked like a team with a purpose with a 4-2 win over Ukraine in a friendly match at BMO Field, Toronto, on Saturday. Jonathan David starred with a brace.

Canada confident

Jesse Marsch’s side got off to a good start when David put them in front when he followed in to tap home after his header from a Tajon Buchanan cross was parried out by .

Buchanan was causing the Ukraine defence plenty of problems with his speed and a whipped in cross was perfectly glanced home by David or his and Canada’s second.

Jesse Marsch expects his teams to press high and hard, and from a turnover Promise David went clear to score first international goal to make it 3-0 in the 31st minute.

The chances continued to arrive after the break and substitute Jayden Nelson struck the post as Canada looked to put the game completely beyond the Ukrainians.

The fourth goal came in the 81st minute when Luc De Fougerolles headed goalwards and Buchanan turned it home.

Ukraine got some consolation late on with a goal from Illia Zabarnyi and Oleksandr Zinchenko penalty.

Part of a mini-tournament dubbed the Canadian Shield, it also features New Zealand and the Ivory Coast. Canada face the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.

Mexico open their Gold cup defence on June 14 in the SoFi Stadium against Dominican Republic, the USA start the following day in PayPark, San Jose, against Trinidad and Tobago, whilst Canada begin June 17 against Honduras in BC Place, Vancouver.

Insideworldfootball.com