The United States will meet Mexico on Oct. 3 during the break, but the showdown will feel much quieter than past clashes.
Although the Nations League resumes on Sept. 23, the Stars and Stripes and El Tri will instead play friendlies over the next weeks.
United States
- USMNT vs. Peru: Saturday, Sept. 26 | Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
- USMNT vs. Chile: Tuesday, Sept. 29 | Energizer Park, St. Louis, MO
- USMNT vs. Mexico: Saturday, Oct. 3 | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
- USMNT vs. Canada: Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Allianz Field, St. Paul, MN
Mexico
- Mexico vs. Colombia: Saturday, Sept. 26 | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
- Mexico vs. Peru: Tuesday, Sept. 29 | Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ
- Mexico vs. USMNT: Saturday, Oct. 3 | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ Will the rivalry set the tone for the knockout stage?
Both nations remain members of the CONCACAF Nations League, just not in action yet.
How the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League works
All 41 CONCACAF members are split into three tiers: A (16), B (16) and C (nine).
The U.S. and Mexico sit in League A but are two of four squads, alongside Canada and Panama, that skip the opening group stage slated for the break.
Those four top‑ranked League A sides, per the CONCACAF Index, head straight to the Nations League quarterfinals in the November window.
The dynamic duo is here. 🇲🇽🔥Santi & Hugo are ready for their first call-up to the senior team. Wishing you both the best, go make it count! 💚🤍❤️ pic.twitter.com/wax8kZ9XHj— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) September 19, 2026
USMNT and Mexico await opponents
Thus the USMNT and Mexico will watch League A unfold, shaping their future opponents as the tournament progresses.
The 12 League A teams are divided into two groups of six.
Group A: Costa Rica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Meanwhile, Group B: Honduras, Jamaica, Guatemala, Suriname, Martinique, El Salvador
During the September/October break, each side faces four different foes in its group via a Swiss‑system schedule.
When matches finish, the top two from each group join the USMNT, Mexico, Canada and Panama in the quarterfinals. For my money, this gives the elite teams a clear advantage.
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