World Cup qualifying is rarely easy for the United States. They’ve suffered some huge away losses and drawn teams that they should have beaten at home — often leaving their qualification until the last two games of the Hex. But through all those struggles, they’ve defended home turf well, avoiding defeat for 15 years. That streak came to an end against Mexico on Friday night, with El Tri winning 2-1 in Columbus.
The USMNT just lost a World Cup qualifier at home for the first time in 15 years
Mexico came to play, ending a long streak of 2-0 wins at home over El Tri for the Americans.
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The last time the Americans lost a qualifier at home was on September 1, 2001, when Honduras came to RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. Earnie Stewart got the Americans on the board in the 7th minute, but Los Catrachos scored the next three goals, with Milton Núñez scoring twice and Carlos Pavón converting from the penalty spot. Stewart added a consolation goal in the 83rd minute.
Since then, the USMNT has rattled off 30 games at home without defeat against a variety of opponents. Famously, the closest they came to losing was in a meaningless game from their perspective in 2009, when Jonathan Bornstein equalized against Costa Rica in the 95th minute at RFK. That goal wasn’t totally meaningless though -- it sent Honduras to the World Cup and knocked out Los Ticos.
Now that Mexico has ended their streak, the USMNT will try to start a new one against Honduras on March 24. And if you’re wondering how long it’s been since Mexico beat the United States at home in a World Cup qualifier, it’s even longer: 44 years.
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