These teams might reasonably have been expected to meet in the final of the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, but the USA's campaign took an unexpected diversion, and an opening-game loss to Panama ultimately cost the Americans the top spot in their group. So the USA enters the Classification Stage as a group-stage runner-up, not winner as had been expected.
Mexico has performed much as anticipated: very well. Three wins in three games, nine goals scored, none conceded: El Tri looks in imposing form. But it also only beat Honduras, the second-best team in its group, 1-0 - and conceded a penalty during that game, which Los Catrachos could not convert.