Mexico has the chance to flip the narrative around the national team with positive results in El Tri's two September matches, beginning with a showdown against Peru on Saturday night.
Since May, Mexico has had an unconvincing stretch of matches during which they've been plagued by a lack of goal scoring. They have just one win in their last five outings — that came against Suriname in the CONCACAF Nations League — and it scored a grand total of one goal in the other four contests.
Losses to Uruguay (3-0) and Paraguay (1-0), and a scoreless draw against Ecuador have fans worried about what could be in store at the 2022 World Cup, where they face Argentina, Poland and a tricky Saudi Arabia side. That has heaped the pressure on manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino who has been critical of the negative tone set in the Mexican press, calling himself "public enemy No. 1."
It's a fresh start for Peru, who will be playing their first match since a heartbreaking loss on penalty kicks in a World Cup playoff against Australia. Missing the World Cup meant replacing long-time manager Ricard Gareca with Juan Reynoso, nicknamed 'El Cabezon' who takes the helm of La Bicolor for the first time. He knows Mexican soccer well after recently managing Cruz Azul and leading them to their first Mexican title in 23 years.
Mexico will round out their September tuneup schedule with a match against Colombia on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in Santa Clara, while Peru will meet El Salvador at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
LIVE BLOG: Follow all the updates from Mexico-Peru at the Rose Bowl
Mexico vs Peru TV channel, live stream
Mexico vs. Peru will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. at 18:00 local time.
Guatemalan head referee Bryan Lopez will be assisted by U.S. assistants Ian and Frank Anderson, as well as fourth official Walter Lopez, also of Guatemala. There will be no VAR for the match.
| Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
| Mexico | Sat, Sept. 3 | 20:00 CDT | TV Azteca 7, Canal 5, TUDN | ViX, Azteca Deportes |
| Peru | Sat, Sept. 24 | 20:00 PST | Movistar Deportes, Latina Television | Movistar Play |
| USA | Sat, Sept. 24 | 21:00 ET | Univision, TUDN | fuboTV, TUDN site/app |
USA: The match will be broadcast in the USA on Univision and simulcast on TUDN, with both channels available to stream on fuboTV.
MORE: All about Mexico's Group C opponents at the World Cup
Mexico vs Peru lineups
Players like right-back Kevin Alvarez, winger Roberto 'Piojo' Alvarado, and forwards Henry Martin and Santi Gimenez are among the players hoping to impress enough to lock up their ticket to Qatar.
A host of players are expected to be sidelined due to various knocks (Hector Herrera, Jorge Sanchez, Rogelio Funes Mori and Raul Jimenez have been named), and Luis Romo also joined them. 'Tecatito' Corona is not with the group out with a long-term injury (fractured fibula).
Mexico starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 13-Guillermo 'Memo' Ochoa (GK) — 30-Kevin Alvarez, 3-Cesar Montes, 15-Hector Moreno, 23-Jesus Gallardo — 8-'Charly' Rodriguez, 4-Edson Alvarez, 17-Luis Chavez — 22-Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano, 20-Henry Martin, 25-Roberto 'Piojo' Alvarado
Mexico subs (15): 1-Alfredo Talavera (GK), 12-Rodolfo Cota (GK), 2-Nestor Araujo, 6-Gerardo Arteaga, 27-Jesus Angulo, 5-Johan Vasquez, 26-Fernando 'Nene' Beltran, 14-Erick Gutierrez, 28-Erick Sanchez, 18-Andres Guardado, 21-Diego Lainez, 31-Orbelin Pineda, 10-Alexis Vega, 24-Uriel Antuna, 29-Santiago Gimenez
The first lineup for new manager Juan Reynoso features what looks like a 4-2-3-1 with forward Gianluca Lapadula leading the line. Luis Advincula wins out over Aldo Corzo at right-back. Peru regulars Yoshimar Yotun and Andy Polo are not on the team due to injury and Piero Quispe didn't make the cut for the matchday squad.
Peru starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1-Pedro Gallese (GK) — 17-Luis Advincula, 4-Anderson Santamaria, 22-Alexander Callens, 6-Marcos Lopez — 13-Renato Tapia, 23-Pedro Aquino — 18-Andre Carrillo, 20-Edison Flores, 10-Christian Cueva — 9-Gianluca Lapadula
Peru subs (14): 21-Jose Carvallo (GK), 12-Alejandro Duarte (GK), 5-Carlos Zambrano, 3-Aldo Corzo, 2-Luis Abram, 15-Miguel Araujo, 7-Nelson Loyola, 14-Wilder Cartagena, 8-Sergio Pena, 16-Christofer Gonzalez, 11-Santiago Ormeno, 26-Yordy Reyna, 24-Alex Valera, 30-Raul Ruidiaz
Mexico vs Peru best bets, odds
Mexico have had a hard time against South American teams in their recent stretch of matches, and scoring has been their biggest challenge. They now come up against a Peru side that has only conceded one goal in their last three matches against Mexico.
Expect another tight contest with few goals in this one, and if that happens it wouldn't be a surprise to see frustrated Mexican fans turn against their own team at the Rose Bowl.
It should be a different vibe with Peru under a new manager, who has a reputation as a players' coach. The South American side will be extra motivated as they start fresh. And they have more creative players who can create and score, including Seattle Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz off the bench.
- Pick: Peru +0.5 spread (-164 odds on Sports Interaction)
- Prediction: Mexico 1, Peru 1
| Canada (Sports Interaction) | |
| Mexico win | +121 |
| Draw | +200 |
| Peru Win | +220 |
| Over/Under 2.5 Goals | +137 / -192 |
| Both Teams to Score (Y/N) | -103 / -152 |
| Mexico -0.5 (spread/handicap) | +122 |
| Peru +0.5 (spread/handicap) | -164 |
