It's the up-and-comers against the established power as Canada faces Mexico in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.
Both teams have won the competition before, but that's where all comparisons between the two end. While the Canadians can harken back to a Cinderella run to the 2000 Gold Cup title as their best-ever moment on the men's side (aside from qualifying for their lone World Cup appearance back in the '80s), the Mexicans are the Kings of CONCACAF and expect to win this tournament every time out.
With 11 previous titles to their name, El Tri are easily the Goliath in this match-up.
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Despite the overall disparity between the nations when it comes to historical success, Mexican head coach Tata Martino will be wary of a Canadian side that has proved itself in this tournament against other regional powers. Canada fell 1-0 to the United States in a group-stage game that was as evenly matched as a 90-minute loss could be, then ran rampant over an ill-prepared Costa Rican team in the quarterfinals.
While John Herdman's Canada won't feature star players such as Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, the team has built chemistry throughout the Gold Cup that could hurt the Mexicans if they approach the match with overconfidence.
When is Canada vs. Mexico? Date, start time
- Date: Thursday, July 29
- Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Kickoff is listed at 10 p.m. ET but the match will likely start closer to 10:15 p.m. ET.
What channel/stream is Canada vs. Mexico on?
Fans in Canada can watch the Gold Cup semifinal on OneSoccer. Viewers in the United States can watch on FS1 and TUDN.
Where is Canada vs. Mexico being played?
The match is being played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. NRG Stadium is the home of the NFL's Houston Texans and can hold over 72,000 fans.