THE UNITED STATES and MEXICO are bound together by history, culture and geography. Whether they want to be or not. Their ongoing family drama is more evidence that rivalry is a uniquely compelling form of intimacy. In “Sibling Rivalry,” Hal Phillips investigates the fluid, centuries-old associations between the two nations, on field and off. He explores the byzantine border dynamics, their economic and cultural 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.
San Zusi, the North American Derby's 21st-century Patron Saint. Click above to learn more about Graham's Canonization.
Good Idea from Bad Bunny: ‘Together, We Are America’
Neil Young first introduced me to appellative “American” chauvinism. Someone (probably a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan) had accused the Canadian guitar god of not being American — as part of the flack Young took for writing and recording the song, “Southern Man”. Neil’s response was quick, pointed and apt: “I’m plenty American: North American.” It’s been a few days since Bad Bunny made the identical point during the Super Bowl LX halftime show. His messaging — that “America” is a far broader, older, more inclusive label that many U.S. citizens wish to contemplate — also happens to be a stone-cold fact, one that animates the sibling soccer rivalry between the U.S. and Mexico, the prevailing politics north and south of both U.S. borders, and the World Cup all three siblings will co-host this summer. While Bunny’s elaborate performance proved a clever, gauzy ode to how many different types of Americans can peaceably live within U.S. borders, the linguistic history remains clear and unsentimental. The word “America” was first coined in reference to an Italian, [...]
Excerpt, Chapter 9: The Continuing Education of Rafa Marquez
Rafa Marquez is a thoroughly modern figure. In the twenty-first century, no one has wielded more influence on the fortunes and reputations of Mexican soccer. The modern game is a global game, so it follows that Rafa made much of his mark, for himself and his countrymen, abroad. In 1999, he left the security of domestic futbol for the French club AS Monaco. Following the World Cup trauma of 2002, he moved to F.C. Barcelona, where the polished center back appeared 243 times for one of history’s finest club sides. To the extent that Mexican players have taken their talents abroad, Hugo Sanchez and Marquez are the models. Manchester United star Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, in particular has cited Marquez as his inspiration in this regard. Not every foreign adventure went to plan. After an unhappy two-year stint in MLS, with New York Red Bulls—the worst decision of his career, he later told ESPN Deportes—Rafa returned home to finish his playing days where they started, with Atlas of Guadalajara. While his resume is [...]
‘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.”
