The man in the middle for the US national team's looming showdown with Mexico has reportedly been decided.
According to ElGrafico.com, referee Joel Aguilar Chicas of El Salvador has been tasked with officiating the US-Mexico CONCACAF Cup clash on Oct. 10 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Reportedly joining him to make up the rest of officiating crew for the game are compatriots Juan Francisco Zumba as an assistant referee and Marlon Alfonso Mejia as the fourth official. Costa Rican Marco Leal will be the other assistant.
Aguilar, age 40, boasts a bevy of international officiating experience. He recently was in charge of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup final between Mexico and Jamaica, and has also refereed games at the 2014 World Cup, 2013 Confederations Cup, 2011 Club World Cup, and more. He also was the head official for the 2013 Gold Cup final between the US and Panama, and the Americans' unforgettable World Cup qualifier played in blizzard-like conditions in 2013 against Costa Rica.
The US and Mexico will square off in a little over a week in a highly anticipated match that will determine which CONCACAF nation advances to the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. The Americans secured passage to the game by winning the Gold Cup two years ago, while Mexico reached it by coming out victorious in this past summer's edition of the regional tournament.
