BAD BLOOD: The History of the U.S. and Mexico rivalry.

So here we are, March 26 and another FIFA date under way. With many games being played around the world for World Cup qualifying, the heat is on for many team's. Especially tonight's game  between USA vs. Mexico. The giants of the CONCACAF. So lets take a REAL look at the catalyst of this "rivalry", why is it that when Mexico plays the U.S. there's always this "Bad Blood".

For the answer I had to do some digging and came up with their very first encounter on the pitch. Not just any encounter, but a qualifying match for the final spot in the 1934 World Cup in Italy. The story goes that each team approached this match completely differently while traveling abroad to play their match in Italy. On the Mexican ship, the team rarely did any excersise, or preparation of any kind. The Mexicans were simply overconfident, and who could blame them, soccer is ranked number among many Latin American cultures. Its a sport thats been embraced from day one by many if not all Latin American cultures. As for in the U.S. the sport was just a fad, the Americans did establish a professional league in 1921 but folded in 1933.

Now onboard the U.S. ship, the ambiance was differently. They trained on that ship for that whole month till they reached their destination in Rome. When they reached the Italian capital, they were in the besy shape of their careers at the time. The game was played and the final score was 4-2, giving the win and the final ticket to the World Cup tournament to the Americans,  and sending the overconfident Mexican squad home humiliated. A defeat by the U.S. squad is considered an embarrassment to the Mexican character. 

That was just the beginning, that snowballed into the rivalry that we know today. With an overall record of 33-16-12, thats 33 victories for Mexico and 16 wins for the U.S. and only 12 ties, one would give the upper hand to Mexico. But recently since the start of the 1990's which many soccer analyst consider that to be the peak of the rivalry, the U.S. holds a 14 wins 11 ties and 9 loses. Including the famous 1-0 victory on Wednesday, August 15 at the Estadio Azteca that reignited the rivalry to full potential cause that was the first victory recorded for the Americans on Mexican soil in their 75 years of rivalry. Which tonight that's where the game will take place. Can we make it two in a row?