The U.S. National team defeated Mexico in a highly contested match to win the CONCACAF Nations League Championship, marking the country’s first competitive victory over their rivals since September 10th, 2013.
The defeated streak continued so long I personally graduated through middle school and high school, and was just one year away from graduating college before the team was victorious again. Christain Pulisic, the American captain who scored the game winning goal on June 6th would be just around 15 years old when the U.S. last claimed victory.
To celebrate the recent win and to best illustrate how long the doubt really was, I take a look at how different our world was the last time the U.S. men had a competitive win over Mexico.
92 long months stood between the U.S. men's team and victory over Mexico in a competitive match. In the last win in 2013, the USA leaned on stars Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey in a “Dos a Cero” victory to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Over seven years later the U.S. men's team finally mustered up another competitive win in a nail-biting championship match early June 2021.
The U.S. starting eleven that saw the victory a few days ago average ages are 24 years and 206 days old, boasting the youngest avarage age to represent the USMNT in a final ever. These stars would have been worrying about their homework for either middle school or high school the last time the U.S. saw a win over Mexico.
2,765 total days separates the wins, quite some time has passed since the USMNT defeated Mexico in a match that meant something. After American forward Chistain Pulisic sent the winning goal to the back right of the net late in the extra time, the USMNT finally ended the drought.
In 2013, when the United States last defeated Mexico the entire world was going crazy to the Harlem shake as the trend made its way through social media.
Everyone was getting the new iPhone 5 S in order to hop on popular social media site Vine or even to catch the finale of the hit series "The Office". Maybe they were even hiding from the "new" Miley Cryus who was jirating and assaulting a foam finger on live T.V..
The world was yet to know the many tragedies and struggles that we would eventually have to endure. They were blind to the disappointing future that The Game of Thrones series was destined for as viewers were in shock and awe from the Red Wedding episode premuire.
Tragedies were seen around the world in 2013 as The Boston Marathon Bombing occurred along side numerous horrific world events. We mourned the death of many powerful, influential people in the world including South African President Nelson Mandela, British Prime Minister Margeret Thatcher, and Venezuelans President Hugo Chavez. Even the Pope resigned that year, no wonder the U.S. beat Mexico.
Remember the blackout during the Superbowl, or when Auburn won the Iron Bowl off a miss field goal return for a touchdown after the clock expired?
Well, both events happened around the same time as the last time the United States beat Mexico, that is how long ago since we saw U.S. salvation against our long time rivals. The USMNT had such a long losing streak against Mexico the last time they won people's favorite words were "selfie" and "twerk". When is the last time you have heard those?
Grand Theft Auto V, one of the best selling video games in history was released for everyone to play. We also saw the release of "The Wolf of Wallstreet" and we introduced to Jordan Belforts crazy life.
The last time the USMNT beat Mexico, Steph Curry had zero rings and no MVP awards. Lebron James just won his second NBA title with the Miami Heat with the help of Ray Allen's famous clutch three. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the Oklahama City Thunder. Young basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo was drafted 15th overall in the NBA draft. Leicester City was stuck in the second teir of English soccer. While Cristiano Ronaldo won his very first Fifa Ballon d'Or. Lance Armstrong was also coming out and being exposed as a cheater.
Three different American presidents have been in power through the extended losing streak, but thankfully and finally the U.S. men's team capped of a 92 month droubt against Mexico with an excellent finish in a closely contested championship match.
