USMNT to host Mexico as first opponent in new continental football showdown

North American football has received an upgrade to its calendar timetable with the addition of a brand new annual event.

The Allstate Continental Clásico will see the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) host a top-level opponent from North, Central or South America every year, with the first edition scheduled for 19 April against Mexico

Fans can attend the game live in Glendale, Arizona or tune in to watch it on TBS, Telemundo, Universo, HBO Max and Peacock with kickoff set for 10:22 PM ET. 

Dan Keats, Director of Consumer Marketing and Sponsorships at Allstate, said: “The Continental Clásico is another example of Allstate’s commitment to growing soccer in the U.S. We are excited to build an annual marquee match-up with the national team that promises to excite and unite a diverse group of fans around this event.”

Public ticket sale for the game begins from Thursday, 23 March. Furthermore, card giant Visa will leverage its position as US Soccer’s main payments sponsor to launch a ticket presale for Visa cardholders that will start a day before the public sale. 

The event will be the fourth time in recent years that the US and Mexico have faced each other, with the Americans looking to continue their winning streak over their opponents.

Mexico lost 2-3 in a dramatic Concacaf Nations League match back in June 2021 after Christian Pulisic scored a deciding late game penalty for the US, with his teammate on goal Ethan Horvath denying the same for Mexico’s Andrés Guardado. 

Two months later both teams clashed again during the Concacaf Gold Cup Final hosted in Las Vegas where the US managed to bag a close 1-0 victory with a squad completely different from their previous title run.

The third and final time that saw Mexico and the US colliding was during the World Cup qualifiers in November 2021, where Pulisic again proved what he’s worth together with his support in midfield Weston McKennie.

Kelly Higgins, US Soccer Vice President of Partnership Marketing, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring the Continental Clásico to our fans in partnership with Allstate. 

“The opportunity to build a platform that brings a world-class opponent to the United States each year will be another key step toward making soccer the preeminent sport in our country, and kicking off the event with one of the biggest rivalries in international soccer will no doubt present a unique opportunity for us to engage avid, casual, and multicultural soccer fans alike.”

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