Preview: Mexico vs. Australia - prediction, team news, lineups

Fresh from clinching yet another CONCACAF Gold Cup title, Mexico face Australia in an international friendly at AT&T Stadium this weekend.

The two nations have faced each other five times over the years, with the Socceroos claiming a 2-0 victory in the previous encounter back in 2001.

Match preview

© Reuters

Mexico head into this clash on the back of a memorable Gold Cup triumph, having picked up five wins in six matches on their way to lifting the trophy in California back in July.

Following group-stage victories over Honduras and Haiti, El Tri dominated the knockout phase, dispatching Costa Rica and Jamaica without conceding a goal before defeating Panama 1-0 in the final.

Not only have the CONCACAF kings won two of the last three Gold Cups, but they have also won five of the previous eight, underlining their dominance by featuring in 11 of the past 15 Gold Cup finals, triumphing on nine occasions.

Since the 2022 World Cup, Jaime Lozano's men have lost just two of their 13 matches across all competitions, picking up eight wins and three draws along the way, with six victories coming in their previous seven outings.

Having already enjoyed success across the United States this year - notching 13 goals and four clean sheets in six Gold Cup clashes - the Mexicans will be more than happy to return to Dallas this weekend.

© Reuters

By contrast, Australia have only played three matches since the World Cup, recording a win and a loss against Ecuador back in March before suffering a 2-0 defeat against Argentina in June.

Despite suffering a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of France in their opening match, the Socceroos gave a decent account of themselves at the World Cup, securing 1-0 victories over Tunisia and Denmark to book their place in the knockout phase.

However, Graham Arnold's men ended up losing to eventual champions Argentina in the last 16, with Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez doing the damage before a late Enzo Fernandez own goal.

It is worth noting that Australia have not registered a single draw in their last nine games across all competitions, recording five wins and losses, so Arnold will be eager for his team to establish some consistency.

On top of that, the Socceroos have failed to score more than a single goal in eight of their previous 10 encounters, meaning that Australia could struggle to find the back of the net in Texas.

Team News

© Reuters

Jaime Lozano has called up three uncapped players - Guadalajara's Jesus Orozco, Monterrey's Jordi Cortizo and Pumas' Cesar Huerta - for the friendlies against Australia and Uzbekistan.

At the opposite end of the international spectrum, veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is set to earn his 144th cap, while Raul Jimenez and Hector Herrara also have 100+ caps to their name.

West Ham United new boy Edson Alvarez is expected to start in midfield this weekend, with 22-year-old Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez operating in the forward line.

Interestingly, only two members of Australia's 23-man squad play their club football Down Under, with Melbourne City's Mathew Leckie and Aziz Behich getting the call-up this time around.

Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson, Cameron Devlin, Martin Boyle, Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus all ply their trade in the Scottish Premiership, while Tom Glover, Riley McGree and Samuel Silvera represent Middlesbrough.

Mexico possible starting lineup:

Ochoa; Sanchez, Araujo, Vasquez, Gallardo; Romo, Alvarez, Herrera; Antuna, Jimenez, Gimenez

Australia possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Atkinson, Souttar, Rowels, Behich; Leckie, Baccus, O'Neill, McGree; Duke, Boyle

We say: Mexico 2-0 Australia

Although Australia have made some notable improvements under the guidance of Graham Arnold, we expect to Socceroos to fall short against Mexico, who boast a markedly stronger squad in every department.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.