Cavan_sullivan_-_asn_top_-_celebrate_goal_vs._mexico_-_oct_2026
USMNT analysis

Analysis: With 3-0 win over Mexico, USMNT strikes nice blend of youth & experience

ASN's Brian Sciaretta offers up some second-viewing analysis of the USMNT and it's 3-0 win over Mexico
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted
October 04, 2026
3:10 PM

THE UNITED STATES DEFEATED Mexico 3-0 on Saturday night in Arizona to notch its third straight friendly win to begin the new World Cup cycle. Mauricio Pochettino’s youthful roster continues to perform very well this four-game camp and build momentum for a program that performed well at the summer World Cup before an ugly exit to Belgium in the Round of 16.

Pochettino had yet to beat Mexico and this win, even for just a friendly, helped build confidence and positive energy with a team.

Of course, the running theme from the wins over Peru and Chile to open the window was the surprising performances of many of the young players on the roster. Julian Hall had goals in each game, Justin Ellis and Mathis Albert also scored, Cavan Sullivan looked dangerous.

There have been high expectations on this group based on their performances in MLS this season, but what has stood out has been the confidence of the players when pushed into USMNT duty. The young players have not looked lost in the moment or overwhelmed with the responsibility. The players looked ready.

The veterans, meanwhile, have combined nicely with the young group and have shown a lot of chemistry. Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, Sergino Dest, and Gio Reyna have been among the best players after all three featured in the World Cup.

All this was on display against Mexico. Hall, 18, opened the scoring when a Reyna sent a ball into the box from the right wing. Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel got his hands on it but dropped the ball and Hall was there to pounce for an easy 1-0 lead. Hall now has three goals from three USMNT games this window.

In the 62nd minute, Sullivan scored his first USMNT goal when he intercepted a bad pass from Rangel in the back and then chipped it into the empty net from 30 yards.

After Mexico was reduced to 10 men when Mateo Chávez was sent off in the 67th minute, Malik Tillman rounded out the scoring when he also intercepted a bad back-pass from Álvaro Fidalgo to then score easily.

 

For the U.S team, they will now look to complete a four-game sweep of this window with a friendly against Canada in Minnesota on Tuesday.

For Mexico, the pressure is now on Rafa Marquez who has two draws and a loss to begin his tenure as the team’s coach. El Tri hosts Chile on Tuesday night.

 

U.S. punishes Mexico’s mistakes

In the history of the U.S. vs. Mexico rivalry in this sport, Mexico has often been its own worst enemy. There have been untimely red cards and mistakes that have handed several wins to the United States.

This game was on another level. Every single goal the U.S. team scored was preventable with basic competence from Mexico.

 

But full credit for the U.S. team to punish Mexico’s mistakes. That is part of the game. When the U.S. team scored the opening goal, Mexico was rattled. That opened the door for more mistakes.

It should temper the enthusiasm of the win – at least a little bit. Mexico is unlikely to make this many mistakes in another game again. The U.S. team will need to play better and create more opportunities on its own, as opposed to relying on gifts.

But for a U.S. team that once again was looking for contributions from teenagers new to the team, it was a big step forward and a confidence builder.

 

U.S. defense limited Mexico’s chances

 

The U.S. team was effective defending early in the game. Mexico was obviously going to be on its front foot playing in front of a very supportive crowd against a rival. On top of that, 20-year-old goalkeeper Diego Kochen was making his first start for the U.S. team.

 

But the U.S. team did well to protect Kochen and limit the chances in front of him. Antonee Robinson, Auston Trusty, and Chris Richards made a few mistakes early that required emergency defending, but each player improved significantly as the game went on. Alex Freeman and Tyler Adams were especially sharp in this game.

The most important statistic in this game was that Kochen was only required to make one save.  

 

Veterans continue to lead

 

The two best players for the U.S. team over the entire game were Tyler Adams and Alex Freeman.

Even when Mexico had most of the ball early, Adams patrolled the middle of the field and significantly limited Mexico’s ability to create. Freeman was solid on both sides of the ball as he won duels, defended well, and then was effective passing the ball forward.

On the offensive side in the midfield, Sebastian Berhalter and Gio Reyna were both effective in helping the U.S. team initially move from being pinned back and into a situation where it could generate chances. On Hall’s goal, the build-up came through Berhalter, Freeman, and Reyna.

 

Youth Report

 

Teenagers have now scored six of the 11 goals this window. Last Tuesday, Mathis Albert became the youngest goal scorer in USMNT history. That record lasted four days as Cavan Sullivan, three days after his 17th birthday surpassed him.

This was a great game for the kids to shine because they were not burdened with many responsibilities. The veterans and Mexico’s mistakes, helped to make it easier for them.

Hall did not touch the ball much and was quiet for most of the game. He was in the right place at the right time when Rangel couldn’t hang onto Reyna’s pass. But that is all part of it and strikers need to make their own luck. Hall has now scored as many goals for the USMNT as Josh Sargent has since 2019.

Sullivan was quiet for most of the first half but was able to pounce on a mistake with a chip that needed a lot of skill, even with the goalkeeper out of the net.

 

Kochen, meanwhile, needed to make just one save. It was a nice one in the 58th minute when he tipped Roberto Alvarado’s ball over the crossbar. His distribution wasn’t sharp, but he was put in a position when he did not need to be at his best to thrive.

That is what is making this camp such a success. The young players are being given a chance to shine, and they are largely because they aren’t being required to carry the team or be the team’s immediate future.

Looking back to 2018-2022, the young players of that time were introduced on the heels of failing to qualify for the World Cup. They were not just part of the team’s future, they were also the present. Those players had to produce immediately and it was a tough time to develop. These players have a solid veteran core helping them as they enter the international arena. It should only help them in the future.

 

Adams named captain

 

Before the game against Mexico, Pochettino announced that Tyler Adams would be the team’s captain moving forward.

 Unlike the last two cycles, the U.S. national team will now have a captain for a full cycle as opposed to having one named just before the World Cup.

 

Adams, 27, is a logical choice for many reasons. He has the temperament, accomplishments, and experience that managers typically want for a captain. But just as importantly, he has a career that many of the younger players will relate to and want to emulate. He came up through an MLS academy and won a USL title with the Red Bulls second team. He then played with the first team at the Red Bulls and accomplished a lot there before moving abroad to Germany and then England.

As these young players begin to come through the system, Adams will be able to lead them effectively as he knows what they are now going through at this stage of their careers.

With Adams as the captain, Pochettino will now have more stability within the team than he did when he inherited the job less than two years from the World Cup.

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