THE UNITED STATES and MEXICO are bound together by history, culture and geography. Whether they want to be or not. This complex relationship is nowhere more visible than on the soccer field, and in the stands. With his new book, Sibling Rivalry, Hal Phillips shows why USA vs. Mexico soccer is more than a match. It’s an ongoing family drama proving that rivalry is a uniquely compelling form of intimacy. Phillips investigates the fluid, centuries-old associations between the two nations, on field and off. He explores byzantine border dynamics, shared economic anxieties, and the North American Derby’s stunning evolution from a one-sided “nothing-burger” to an intensely contested, ever-escalating blood feud. The partisans are front and center here, but Phillips also draws on the personal narratives of transnational players and fans, breathing more life and nuance into this thoroughly North American story.
Graham Zusi, the North American Derby's 21st-century Patron Saint. Visit EXCERPTS in top nav to learn more about Graham's unlikely canonization.
Two Bitter Rivalries Take Flight, Right Before Our Eyes
In the pages of Sibling Rivalry, I examine not just U.S. vs. Mexico, but also rivalry itself as a sporting phenomenon. Because we humans tend to tribalize so enthusiastically, rivalry is a consistent, almost inevitable outgrowth of these identity politics. Rivalries don’t typically evolve in symmetric fashion, however. It took the U.S. nearly 50 years to understand and participate in its soccer rivalry with our southern neighbor. In Mexico, it took a single loss in the first match, back in 1934. In March, we watched two bitter rivalries take flight, right before our eyes. We observed the spontaneous, combustible birth of a new futbol derby, one that will smolder with great intensity in the years to come. One burning question in particular was lit by Morocco’s bureaucratic plucking the 2025 Cup of Nations title from opponent Senegal — 57 days after the Lions of Teranga beat the Lions of Atlas in January’s final: When will these two prides next play? Because I will fly to Dakar or Rabat for that match. More likely, [...]
Excerpt: Mexican admiration for Argentinian Futbol Culture runs Deep
Walking through the tailgate scene outside Estadio Akron, I stopped a few times to chat up the locals—hoping to find English speakers to discuss the match and our multigenerational family feud. This search proved largely fruitless. Google Translate can only do so much. But those limited conversations, taken together, did accentuate one thing: Mexican fans were impressed and maybe a bit spooked by Mauricio Pochettino’s recent hire. Be it broken English or fluent Spanish, the man’s name kept coming up. As a fan of Tottenham, whom Poch managed from 2014–19, I don’t disagree with the sentiment. He’s clearly the most impressive, experienced coaching hire in the 108-year history of the US Men’s National Team. But Pochettino is respected reflexively in Mexico because he’s Argentinian, and Mexican admiration for Argentinian futbol culture runs deep. And a bit eccentric. The fixation dates back to the origins of soccer in the Americas, as La Albiceleste exhibited world-class form from the very beginnings of the international game. Their national teams immediately gained finals. They leveraged their [...]
‘What the rivalry means on both sides of the border’
“Hal Phillips examines how the rivalry grew from the heartland of Ohio to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, and what the rivalry means on both sides of the border: the shame of Mexicans, the insecurities on both sides, the envy and scorn the two opponents feel about each other in one of international soccer’s most unique and surely complicated rivalries. Really interesting book. Phillips gives also us an important history lesson, not just on the USA-Mexico soccer rivalry and the evolution of the sport in both countries, but on the interdependence between neighboring nations.”
‘Top-Notch Storytelling’
“Starting with Seamus Malin’s terrific Intro, Hal Philllps’ take on the complex U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry is nuanced, layered, and deeply felt. Top-notch storytelling for anyone interested in understanding what is really going on beneath the surface whenever the U.S. Men line up against El Tri.”
‘A history more complex than participants and supporters can imagine’
“Back in the day, when we were trying to convince editors about a growing audience for soccer, Hal Phillips’ generation came along to back us up. Then, they started carrying the ball — playing the game at a decent level and, now, telling the tales. This is a story that touches home, taking us to origins that predate the first U.S.-Mexico encounter, in 1934, and outlining a history more complex than participants and supporters can imagine. This book untangles the complexities and explains how, despite a clash of cultures, the U.S. and Mexico appear to be finding common ground. Surprisingly, considering most soccer rivalries are eternal, Phillips reveals this one could be headed in an unexpected direction leading up to the 2026 World Cup, and beyond.”
