10 Reasons Mexico and the USA Hate Each Other on the Pitch

Mexico and the USA have always been football rivals. Whenever these two teams face each other, the fans go nuts.

Through the years, the USA has become a stronger and faster team, while Mexico has produced a new generation full of youngsters and experienced players who have found success in Europe.

Their most recent match, in the Gold Cup final, made it clear that their rivalry will always be heated, and here are 10 reasons why...

Being neighbors has determined many things, one of them being football.

Maybe the geographical position has had more impact in other areas, such as politics, but sports have also been affected.

Mexico was the Concacaf giant, but back in the mid-'90s, when USA started to play at good levels, the hate got even worse.

Yes, the independence of Texas—and later, its induction into the United States—is a great part of why Mexicans feel like winning every football match is a matter of pride.

This is one of the most obvious reasons. Mexican citizens leaving their country to seek the American Dream has become a migration problem, which has prompted legal actions.

Of course, this translates into football and winning the game shows supremacy.

The players have also been part of the rivalry, and player statements to the media have been fuel for hatred.

Landon Donovan, Rafael Márquez and Cuauhtémoc Blanco are some of the footballers that have caused controversy throughout the last decade.

When parents are passionate about a game, their children may be as well.

This has happened in both countries, and the rivalry has passed from generation to generation, becoming bigger every year as it mixed with other factors.

It's common to see little kids in the stadiums waving a flag or yelling with even more passion than the adults.

The style these teams have is quite different. Ask a Mexican fan what he thinks of the USA strategy, and they'll tell you they are too defensive and expect to have results through a comeback.

On the other hand, USA followers think Mexico is not the Concacaf giant anymore, and that their mentality isn't strong enough.

Add some tackles and previous differences between the players and the pitch becomes a madhouse.

There is this conception that American players come from a different socioeconomic background—higher and, therefore, with more opportunities to succeed.

Mexicans think they have a tougher path to walk when trying to become professional players.

This is not necessarily true, however, as both teams have had to come a long way in order to achieve what they have.

The way both teams are managed is different and it really shows.

Mexico has had a lot of changes in their management, especially the head coach, while the United States have been steady but more successful, having achieved more in less time.

The fans have always played a key role in this rivalry. Passion, when these two teams play, is a must.

The support from the stands is basic, and it ignites the competition on the pitch. Cheering and singing, in order to push the other squad, is one of the most successful strategies when it comes to driving the players mad.

Concacaf championships and World Cup matches have been the most exciting events between these two countries.

They play friendly matches on a regular basis, but it's the big tournaments that really matter, when you really see how big of a deal it is to win.

In their all-time series, Mexico leads with 33 wins, 15 draws and 15 loses. The largest victory was in 1949, when El Tri beat the States 6-0.

The last time USA defeated Mexico was in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers back in 2009.