With a spot in the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup knockout stage already secured in emphatic fashion, the United States women look to stamp their place atop Group A as they meet rivals Mexico in California on Monday.
A 5-0 win over Dominican Republic in their opener was followed up on Friday by a 4-0 demolition of Argentina as the USWNT controlled both games in dominant fashion. The latter result secured a spot in the quarterfinals, but they have not quite yet locked up first place in the group.
The U.S. require at least a point against Mexico in the finale to solidify the top spot, as defeat would see their North American neighbors snatch it away. Mexico are not yet confirmed through to the quarterfinals, but are essentially penciled in, as it would require defeat as well as scuppering their monstrous differential advantage over Argentina which sits at 12 going into the final matches.
With new head coach Emma Hayes watching from afar in London, interim boss Twila Kilgore looks to prepare the side for the summer’s Olympics with a similarly constructed tournament featuring short rest.
MORE: Watch UEFA Champions League in the United States on Paramount+
USA vs Mexico live stream, TV channel
- Date: Monday, Feb. 26, 2024
- Time: 10:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. PT
- TV channel (English): None
- Streaming (English): Paramount+
- TV channel (Spanish): ESPN Deportes
- Streaming (Spanish): ESPN+, Fubo
The English-language broadcast for the U.S. women in this W Gold Cup group stage match will be exclusively on streaming service Paramount+.
Meanwhile, there is a Spanish-language broadcast available on television from ESPN Deportes, which is available to stream on Fubo in the United States as well as ESPN+.
What time is USA vs Mexico kickoff?
This W Gold Cup group stage match kicks off at Dignity Health Sports Park on Monday, February 26 at 7:15 p.m. local time in Carson, California.
Here’s how that time translates across all of the time zones in the United States:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Mon, Feb. 26 | 10:15 p.m. |
| Central Time | Mon, Feb. 26 | 9:15 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Mon, Feb. 26 | 8:15 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Mon, Feb. 26 | 7:15 p.m. |
| Alaska ST | Mon, Feb. 26 | 6:15 p.m. |
| Hawaii ST | Mon, Feb. 26 | 5:15 p.m. |
USA vs Mexico lineups & team news
Interim head coach Twila Kilgore has mixed up her starting lineup for each of the first two W Gold Cup group stage matches to get players time, but will likely go with her strongest XI for the group finale in preparation for the knockout round.
Alyssa Naeher should return in goal, while Emily Sonnett gets the start in midfield at the No. 6 position. There are questions about who will line up next to Naomi Girma in defense, as both Becky Sauerbrunn and the in-form newcomer Jenna Nighswonger are in contention.
Players out injured include Mia Fishel who tore her ACL in pre-tournament training, as well as Mal Swanson who is close to a return from her serious knee injury but not quite there. Cat Macario remains in the final stages of her knee injury rehab but should be on the mend and back soon for Chelsea and in the mix thanks to the absence of both Fishel and Australia star Sam Kerr.
USA projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Girma, Nighswonger, Dunn — Horan, Sonnett, Lavelle — Rodman, Morgan, Smith.
Mexico head coach Pedro Lopez rotated his forward unit against Dominican Republic, but should see the return of his regular starters here against the U.S.
Most notably, Stephany Mayor should be slotted back into the lineup, as the only player on this roster with triple digit international caps. Alongside her, Charlyn Corral should also be deployed again, after she came up empty in the opener against Argentina.
Inexperienced Esthefanny Barreras is the starter in goal after veteran Cecilia Santiago suffered a broken finger earlier this month. Young star Scarlett Camberos, primed for minutes after her winter move to NWSL side Bay FC, is also missing due to a hamstring injury.
Mexico projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Barreras (GK) — Luna, K. Rodriguez, Bernal, G. Espinoza — Ovalle, Nieto, Delgado, M. Sanchez — Mayor, Corral.
W Gold Cup Group A standings, fixtures
Standings
| Pos. | Nation | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | USA | 6 | 2-0-0 | +9 |
| 2. | Mexico | 4 | 1-1-0 | +8 |
| 3. | Argentina | 1 | 0-1-1 | -4 |
| 4. | Dominican Rep. | 0 | 0-0-2 | -13 |
Fixtures
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Tues, Feb. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Mexico 0-0 Argentina | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
| Tues, Feb. 20 | 10:15 p.m. | USA 5-0 Dominican Rep. | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
| Fri, Feb. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Dominican Rep. 0-8 Mexico | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
| Fri, Feb. 23 | 10:15 p.m. | Argentina 0-4 USA | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
| Mon, Feb. 26 | 7 p.m. | Argentina vs. Dominican Rep. | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
| Mon, Feb. 26 | 10:15 p.m. | USA vs. Mexico | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
