In an intense burst of competition, the North and Central American region saw a co-final, with the hosts, the USA, unexpectedly giving traditional rivals, Mexico, a run for their money. The tournament, jokingly dubbed the U.S. Private Cup, has been successfully hosted by the U.S. three times since its inception and won the first two, so naturally this year's event was highly anticipated. But finals are often a matter of life and death, and both sides know this and are determined to play it safe. Looking back at the last five matches in legal time, there have been only four total goals scored between the two sides, all of which have been two goals or less, so the two sides will be aiming for a 2.5-goal margin in this clash. (Monday, 9:15 a.m., game to be played)
The North and Central American League, known as the American version of the UEFA Nations League, is divided into three divisions, A, B, and C, and is played through group stage matches with an elevated class mechanism. Among them, the A-level tournament features a knockout system for the championship. Following the inaugural tournament, this year's final once again featured a strong dialog between the United States and Mexico. The U.S. team has a number of players who have performed well in the mainstream European leagues, such as AC Milan wing Kirsten Plessy and Zuyundas striker Gamo Fivia, etc., and their overall strength is much better. However, they fell behind at one point in their match against Jamaica, eventually reaching the final with a 1-1 draw and a two-goal comeback in overtime. The U.S. team has learned its lesson and seeks to avoid repeating the same mistakes, preferring a conservative strategy.
In contrast, the Mexican team consisted mainly of players from the local league, with the most iconic Europapol Xareng Rossignol playing for Westham midfielder Eichen Omar Ivaris and Yanhofen striker. They easily beat Panama 3-0 in the quarterfinals against a clearly underpowered opponent. Observing Mexico's last six encounters with the United States, they are clearly the underdogs with only two draws and four losses in legal time. In the final, they are more inclined to play a steady game and avoid rushing their offense and getting caught in a passive situation.
