Canada vs. Mexico: CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Odds, Prediction
The lone undefeated side remaining in the CONCACAF octagon, Canada is coming off a slim 1-0 win over Costa Rica on Friday. Mexico is coming off their first defeat in World Cup qualify in eight years, a decisive 2-0 loss to the United States, and now sit level with the Americans, just one point up on third-place Canada.
Canada originally opened as slim favourites to win on the soccer odds, but this game now sits as a pick’em. The total is pegged at 2.5, with the UNDER sporting -179 odds. It is shaping up to be a frosty night in Edmonton, with temperatures forecast to be well below freezing at kick off, along with a wind chill reaching -16 degrees Celsius.
Canada vs. Mexico Soccer Odds
Tuesday night’s matchup marks the second CONCACAF octagon clash between these rival squads, and the third overall meeting of 2021. The two sides battled to a 1-1 draw last month in Mexico City. That marked the first time that Canada has earned a point while facing El Tri in six meetings since 2008. Mexico has dominated in head-to-head clashes, avoiding defeat in 10 meetings since dropping a 2-1 extra decision at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Home cooking has also provided no benefit to Canada when battling Mexico, with the Canadians compiling a 0-3-2 win-draw-loss in five dates on home soil since 1990.
Canada
It wasn’t pretty, but Canada did what they had to do to eke out a narrow 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in Matchday 7 action. As will be the case on Tuesday, weather was a big factor as temperatures dipped below freezing, creating conditions the Ticos are typically unfamiliar with. In addition to lifting Canada’s record to a 3-4-0, two points up on fourth-place Panama, it also marked the third time the squad has kept clean sheets so far in in third round action. Indeed, the Canadians have emerged as a defensive force in recent months, with their 2-1 loss to Mexico in the semi-finals of this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup marking the only match in which they have surrendered more than a single goal in 18 non-friendly outings since November 2019.
Mexico
El Tri aim to get back on track in the wake of last week’s loss to the United States. In addition to marking a rare defeat in World Cup qualifying, last Friday’s loss marked the first time Mexico has come up short in back-to-back outings across all competitions since November 2018. The Mexicans never led while falling 3-2 in a friendly date with Ecuador late last month. However, apart from a pair of losses to the Americans this year, they have been dominant in non-friendly action, going 19-3-2 in all competitions since the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Mexico has potted 10 total goals over their first seven qualifiers, with 10 different players finding the mark. But with the Mexicans now set to face unfamiliar frosty conditions, they face a huge challenge to run up the score against a stout Canadian defence.