Mexico, Venezuela play for top spot in Group B at Copa America 2024 | OneFootball

MIAMI – Mexico and Venezuela fight for the top of Group B at the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America on Wednesday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Both nations won their opening encounters last Saturday with three points, respectively. Mexico won 1-nil over Jamaica in Houston, while Venezuela defeated Ecuador, 2-1, in Santa Clara, California.

Gerardo Arteaga scored the goal that delivered the win and the three points in Mexico’s opener against Jamaica. However, the victory did not come without a cost, as Mexico lost captain Edson Alvarez to injury.

Mexico head coach Jaime Lozano will have to field a new starting XI for the next encounter with Venezuela. Luis Romo, a member of the 2023 Gold Cup winning squad, entered the match for Alvarez in the win over Jamaica.

Venezuela head coach Fernando Batista will also look to position his team closer to a spot in the knockout round. La Vinotinto is captained by the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup top scorer and CF Pachuca striker Salomon Rondon.

Rondon had three shots and one assist in Venezuela's opening match. Jhonder Cadiz and Eduard Bello scored the second-half goals that led Venezuela to a comeback win over Ecuador.

Mexico and Venezuela last met in the Copa America in 2016. Venezuelans Alexander Gonzalez, Wilker Angel, Tomas Rincon, and Rondon are the only players on the current squad who played in that 1-1 draw.

Mexico is undefeated against Venezuela in the Copa America with 2 wins and 1 draw. However, the last time they met in this tournament, the match ended 1-1 with goals by José Velázquez (10’) for Venezuela and Jesús Corona (80’) for Mexico, ending Mexico's streak of 2 consecutive wins in previous tournament matches.

In the Copa America group stage, they will face each other for the 4th time:

- Uruguay 1995 | Group A | Mexico 3 (Luis García 41’, 57’, Missael Espinosa 76’) vs. Venezuela 1 (Jorge Campos own goal 65’).

- Paraguay 1999 | Group B | Mexico 3 (Cuauhtémoc Blanco 21’, 39’, Daniel Osorno 29’) vs. Venezuela 1 (Gabriel Urdaneta 72’).

- United States 2016 | Group C | Mexico 1 (Jesús Corona 80’) vs. Venezuela 1 (José Velázquez 10’).

*Venezuela has never beaten Mexico in any competition.

All-Time series: 13 matches

10 wins for Mexico

3 draws

0 wins for Venezuela

30 goals for Mexico

10 goals for Venezuela