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Concacaf Nations League: How do Panama, Mexico, Canada stack up vs. USMNT?
The Concacaf Nations League returns this week after a four-month absence. The United States, Panama, Mexico and Canada will compete to determine who rules the North/Central American region — a title that carries significant weight with the World Cup 15 months away.
The U. S. Men's National Team, ranked 16th in the world, is elevating its game under new coach Mauricio Pochettino and coasts into the Nations League on a four-match winning streak. But how will it fare against the rest of Concacaf's finest?
Here's how Panama, Mexico and Canada stack up against the rest of the region as the Nations League finals draw near.
Panama | fourth in Concacaf, 36th in world
Panama has evolved into a worrisome team for the USMNT, and it's easy to see why. It has a talented, regimented side with a flair for physicality. Panama has won three of its past five matches against the USMNT, including two crucial tournament knockout games in 2023 and 2024.
Panama doesn't have the attacking power of its Concacaf neighbors, but it spikes in defensive midfield and excels at controlling play.
Ex-MLS legend Coco Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM) commands the center of the park for Panama and supplies grit. He's something of a red-card magnet — he baits opposition players into getting them as often as he earns them himself — and should be the USMNT's biggest threat.
In Panama's win over the USMNT in the Copa America last summer, Carrasquilla orchestrated the upset. He also got sent off in the closing minutes for a sneaky tackle on Christian Pulisic.
Mexico | second in Concacaf, 19th in world
Mexico hit its modern nadir at the Copa America in 2024. Its early exit from the tournament was as predictable as it was depressing for its followers. The outrage from that performance catalyzed change, though, and El Tri enters its Nations League matchups with a renewed sense of purpose.
Back for his third stint in charge of Mexico, coach Javier Aguirre led the team to a 2-0 win over the USMNT in fall 2024 and to a bloody, two-legged victory over Honduras to book its place in the Nations League semifinals.
Aguirre's Mexico looks very different from the Mexico that crashed out of the Copa. It's powered by Premier League talent, with Edson Alvarez (West Ham United) holding down the midfield and Raul Jimenez (Fulham) leading the attack. Pay close attention to Jimenez, who is a teammate of USMNT left back Antonee Robinson across the pond.
Canada | third in Concacaf, 31st in world
This ranking is far too low for a team that made it to the third-place match in the Copa America and has held its own against powerful France, Chile and Uruguay. Canada is the strongest team in Concacaf, and it enters the Nations League finals as the favorite.
American coach Jesse Marsch leads Canada's rebirth. He took over after the 2022 World Cup, instituting a fast, fluid, Red Bull-inspired playing model that relies on individual fitness.
Marsch's Canada can outrun anyone. But they're not too shabby on the ball either. Moïse Bombito (Nice) and Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) are the most desired full backs in Europe, and young forward Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United) is rocketing up the MLS Golden Boot standings.
Canada hasn't won a major trophy since 2000. This is its best opportunity to win one in ages — and one it won't take lightly.
The Concacaf Nations League returns Thursday (March 20) with the U.S. playing Panama in the first game (7 p.m. ET), followed by Canada-Mexico (10:30 p.m. ET). Both games are at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
More must-reads:
- Diego Luna brings winning work ethic to Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT
- Robinson among USMNT trio ruled out for CNL
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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