Mexico vs USA: Why the Americans Have No Chance in Mexico

This is not a game anyone is expecting the Americans to win.

Good thing it's only an exhibition matchup.

When the U.S. and Mexico meet in a friendly on Wednesday night at 8 p.m., the Americans will be hoping to leave Estadio Azteca without embarrassing themselves. That, essentially, is all they can hope for in a situation in which they'll be completely overmatched.

Even though the U.S. national team has played decently in its most recent three outings, those outings don't provide much reassurance as it prepares to take on Mexico. The Americans played to a 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, beat Antigua 3-1 and played to a scoreless draw in a friendly against Canada, but those are warmups compared with what they'll face in Mexico on Wednesday.

Some may not believe that history provides an accurate indication of why the U.S. will run into problems on Wednesday. 

But those who do put stock in the historical context of this match are in for a rude reality check. If the Americans win on Wednesday night, it will be their first time winning versus Mexico, in Mexico. Ever. As in, the first time in 25 games in history, according to USSoccer.com.

The Americans' overall record against Mexico, including games played beyond the Mexican border, is a bit more encouraging: The U.S. has gone 15-32-12 versus Mexico since 1934, and one of those wins included a resounding 2-0 defeat of Mexico in the 2002 World Cup, which earned the U.S. a ticket to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1930, according to the same report from USSoccer.com.

But don't expect Wednesday's friendly to echo that momentous victory. For one thing, it doesn't matter. It's just a friendly, and the U.S. will be without Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo, according to the Associated Press.

That doesn't mean the Americans won't be trying—their pride is at stake, as is the chance to pull off a massive international shocker—but it is just an exhibition matchup, and Jurgen Klinsmann is treating it as such.

Plus, Mexico isn't exactly the type of team against which you forge a surge in momentum. There was, of course, that gold medal in London a couple of days ago. There's also the fact that Mexico hasn't lost since February 29, in a friendly against Colombia.

Since then, Mexico has reeled off an 11-game unbeaten streak, and it looks like the furthest thing from a team on the verge of an epic upset.

A U.S. win would most definitely constitute an epic upset, and it just doesn't seem to be in the cards for Wednesday. Mexico has just been playing too well, and the U.S. has just been too mediocre.

But at least it's just an exhibition game.