Mexico vs. United States
2021 Concacaf Nations League Final
Sunday, June 6, 2021 | 8 p.m. CT
Empower Field at Mile High | Denver, Colorado
Broadcast Schedule:
English | CBS Sports Network, Paramount+
Spanish | Univision, TUDN, TUDN.com
After sinking his penalty to help Mexico to a dramatic shootout victory over Costa Rica on Thursday, Sporting Kansas City striker Alan Pulido will play for the first title of his senior international career when El Tri and the United States renew their epic rivalry Sunday night in the 2021 Concacaf Nations League Final at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
The high-stakes encounter is slated for 8 p.m. CT with live coverage in English on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+ and in Spanish on Univision, TUDN and TUDN.com.
Pulido collected his 15th cap for Mexico in Thursday's narrow defeat of Costa Rica, entering as a 58th-minute substitute and converting his spot kick in the fourth of a five-round shootout after 90 minutes of scoreless action. Head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino's side prevailed 5-4 on penalties to set up a mouthwatering battle against the United States, which beat Honduras 1-0 behind an 89th-minute winner from Jordan Siebatcheu in the first game of the Denver doubleheader.
Mexico and the U.S. haven't locked horns in a competitive fixture since July 7, 2019, when El Tri claimed a 1-0 win in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final. The most recent meeting saw Mexico emerge 3-0 victors in a friendly on Sept. 6, 2019. Pulido has faced the U.S. twice previously at the senior international level, scoring in a 2-2 friendly draw in April 2014 and featuring as a second-half substitute the last time the Americans beat Mexico in a September 2018 friendly.
The 2021 Concacaf Nations League Final will crown a champion for the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League, which kicked off in September 2019 with group stage play. The inaugural edition of the tournament involved the men's national teams of all 41 member associations of Concacaf and the winner will be awarded the Concacaf Nations League Trophy unveiled last week.
Sunday's monumental encounter will set the tone for an entertaining summer and autumn chock-full of international competition, with Mexico and the U.S. participating in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup next month and beginning 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying in September.
A 2014 FIFA World Cup veteran, Pulido has five goals in 15 appearances for Mexico and is seeking his first El Tri goal since providing the decisive tally in a 1-0 win over Iceland in February 2017. He has joined Mexico in a rich vein of form, having led MLS during the month of May with five goals and six combined goals and assists. Sporting Kansas City's record signing has posted four goals and an assist during the club's current three-game winning streak.
