A rivalry renewed as Mexico, U.S. set for electric matchup of unbeatens (8 ET, FOX)

HOUSTON -- It's time for the game we've all been waiting for in Pool B of the World Baseball Classic: USA-Mexico.

The two baseball heavyweight nations are set to face off on Monday night at Daikin Park (8 p.m. ET, FOX) in what might be the most hyped game in all of pool play at the 2026 Classic.

Team USA and Mexico are both undefeated through their first two games. They're both coming off deep runs in the 2023 World Baseball Classic -- the U.S. to the finals, Mexico to the semifinals. And they're WBC rivals.

"The U.S. has had their hands full with [Mexico] in this tournament the last couple of installments of it," manager Mark DeRosa said. "I certainly haven't forgotten about it."

There will be a ton of stars on both sides. There's Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber and Paul Skenes leading the way for the United States, as the reigning National League Cy Young winner makes his first start of the tournament. And there's Randy Arozarena, Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran and Jonathan Aranda for Mexico, who led the way in a historic offensive outburst against Brazil on Saturday night.

And the atmosphere in Houston should be electric, as both the U.S. and Mexico have turned out huge crowds for their games.

"Tomorrow's stadium, I can bet you all that it's going to be a full house," said Mexico manager Benji Gil. "It's going to be packed because of the U.S., and because of Mexico, and because Mexico is facing a great team."

The winner of the game will be in strong position to win Pool B and book a spot in the WBC quarterfinals in Houston. The loser will have to bounce back to beat Italy in their final game to have a chance to advance.

"It's become a rivalry when maybe it should never have been a rivalry," Gil said. "Maybe their rival should be Japan, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. But it's become a rivalry because we've had success."

Here’s what you need to know about the USA-Mexico showdown:

When and where: Monday, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, Daikin Park

How you can watch: U.S. vs. Mexico will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

How you can listen: There is a free English-language audio stream available for every game.

Team results: The U.S. and Mexico have both taken down Great Britain and Brazil to start 2-0 in Pool B. Team USA opened against Brazil with a 15-5 win on Friday behind a home run from their captain Judge in his first WBC at-bat, then beat Great Britain 9-1 on Saturday with Tarik Skubal on the mound and Schwarber providing the fireworks at the plate.

Mexico beat Great Britain, 8-2, in their Classic opener on Friday, when Aranda hit the tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning, and followed that with a 16-0 win over Brazil on Sunday -- the third-largest margin of victory in any game in WBC history.

Probable starting pitchers: RHP Manny Barreda (Mexico) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (USA)

What’s at stake: Whichever team wins this game will be 3-0 with one game remaining in pool play. That won't clinch a spot in the quarterfinals, because there's still the possibility of a three-way tie where Team USA, Mexico and Italy all finish 3-1. But it will put the winner in control of Pool B and make that team the favorite to finish in first place.

Losing wouldn't be the end of the world for either the U.S. or Mexico, as they'd still have a 2-1 record and be able to advance with a win over Italy in their pool play finale. (The U.S. plays Italy on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, and Mexico plays Italy on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on Tubi.) But the pressure would be extremely high under the threat of an early tournament exit. And Italy is also a good team that's 2-0 in the tournament.

Matchup history: These two teams go way back in the World Baseball Classic -- and Mexico holds the edge in the rivalry. The U.S. and Mexico have met four times in WBC play entering Monday, and Mexico is 3-1 in those four games.

In 2023, Mexico dominated the U.S., 11-5, in pool play behind a two-homer game by Joey Meneses and a three-hit effort by Arozarena, although both teams went on to advance. In 2013, Mexico won their matchup, 5-2, with Adrián González homering for the big blow. And in the first Classic in 2006, Mexico beat Team USA, 2-1, in the final game of the second round, costing the U.S. a spot in the tournament semifinals despite a lineup led by Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones and Alex Rodriguez.

The United States' only win over Mexico in the World Baseball Classic came in pool play in 2006, when they won, 2-0, getting a dominant outing from Jake Peavy and clutch home runs from Chipper and Derrek Lee.