ARLINGTON, Texas — They greeted the final whistle with clenched fists and high fives, but no, they did not spill onto the field. The U.S. men’s national team won North and Central America’s most coveted soccer trophy here on Sunday. They celebrated with nonchalant strides and no frills. They eventually popped champagne, and perhaps a hard seltzer or two; but they reacted as if they’d been Dos a Cero victors before because, well, they have. They have dominated Mexico, and graduated to greater challenges.
Mexico, once upon a time, was the venerated standard, the traditional giant to emulate and to chase.