Mexico vs. USA – FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Thursday, March 24, 2022

Arch-rivals Mexico and the USA meet for a vital World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday night. As we approach the business end of the campaign, the foes are locked on 21 points in the CONCACAF group.

With fourth-place Panama (17 points) and fifth-place Costa Rica (16 points) hot on their heels, El Tri and the USMNT cannot afford to slip up. That means both sides will be desperate to claim all three points in Mexico City.

Who will take another step closer to Qatar 2022? Keep reading to discover my Mexico vs. USA prediction and betting pick.

With the home-field advantage on their side, the Mexicans head into Thursday’s showdown as favorites. That said, the price for the home victory is by no means low.

I don’t think the Stars and Stripes will mind carrying the underdog tag into this match. Having avoided defeat in each of their previous three meetings with El Tri, the visitors will be confident of upsetting the odds.

In the reverse fixture back in November, the Yanks claimed an impressive 2-0 win over Mexico. That means the Mexicans have not tasted victory against the USMNT since 2019.

Let’s not forget that Gregg Berhalter’s boys beat Mexico in the Nations League final before beating their rivals again in the Gold Cup showpiece. It’s fair to say that the USMNT has enjoyed facing Mexico in recent times.

Still, the two sides have identical WCQ records. Both teams have registered six wins, three draws, and two losses so far. The importance of Thursday’s clash cannot be overstated.

Tata Martino’s men endured a disappointing end to 2021. Three straight losses against Ecuador, the US, and Canada saw them finish the year on a four-game winless run.

Still, they have yet to taste defeat in 2022. Thanks to wins over Jamaica and Panama, along with a draw against Costa Rica, the Mexicans are in a strong position to punch their ticket to the World Cup.

Mexico’s roster is stacked with big-name players. From midfielders such as Hector Herrera (Atletico Madrid) and Edson Alvarez (Ajax) to forwards like Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Jesus Corona (Sevilla), and Hirving Lozana (Napoli), El Tri is strong in every department.

Unlike Mexico, the Stars and Stripes are missing a number of key players due to injury. In fact, it could be argued that Berhalter’s squad is the weakest it’s been for some time.

Still, there is no hiding from the fact that Berhalter’s boys are on an excellent run at the moment. Not only have they won three of their last four games, but they have also lost just two of their previous 21 in all competitions.

Due to the lengthy injury list, youngsters such as Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg), and Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas) will need to step up on Thursday night.

With so much at stake, I expect Thursday’s showdown to be a tense and cagey encounter between two evenly matched teams. Ultimately, both sides will be happy to avoid defeat.

Although the Mexicans have failed to beat the US in each of their past three meetings, they will fancy their chances of exploiting Berhalter’s depleted squad. That said, the Yanks still boast a mean backline.

I can see Mexico dominating the ball on home soil, but I’m confident that Berhalter’s boys will stand firm and frustrate the hosts. For that reason, the draw is my Mexico vs. USA prediction and betting pick.

The unbeaten Canadians look set to run away with first place in the CONCACAF qualifying group, leaving the US and Mexico to occupy second and third. That means both sides should be happy to settle for a point on Thursday.

Follow the link below for more soccer predictions and picks. Our team of experts will be covering World Cup qualifiers from all across the world over the next fortnight.