Sibling Rivalry

I cannot find the proper words of praise and delight that I felt having read in one fell swoop Hal Phillips’s magisterial work on the U.S.-Mexico rivalry in soccer. This is not only a masterpiece in the cultural sociology of rivalries in sports and beyond, but it also features a nuanced command of all things soccer (and sports) deeply ensconced in the larger histories of Mexico and the United States with sumptuous detours into Britain, the Continent, and Latin America. This is a remarkable book! -- Andrei S. Markovits, Karl W. Deutsch Collegiate Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Starting with Seamus Malin’s terrific intro, Hal Phillips’s 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. -- Ty Keough, US National Team veteran and Mexican American This is a story that touches home, taking us to origins that predate the first U.S.-Mexico encounter 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. -- Frank Dell’Apa, longtime Boston Globe soccer columnist 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. A really interesting book. Phillips also gives 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. -- Paul Kennedy, editor, Soccer America