Major League Soccer and Liga MX both realize they’re more powerful as partners than rivals.

Forward Jozy Altidore and goalkeeper Brad Guzan are on a preliminary 59-man United States roster with a mostly junior varsity appearance for next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

United States Julian Araujo leaves the pitch after losing 0-1 against Mexico on a Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying championship soccer match in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)Uriel Antuna scored following a sloppy giveaway by Sebastian Soto in the 45th minute, and Mexico beat the United States 1-0 at Guadalajara on Wednesday night in qualifying for the men’s Olympic soccer tournament. Each Olympic team can use three wild-card players over the age limit. AdSebastián Jurado replaced Mexico goalkeeper Luis Malagón in the 39th minute after the starter appeared to injury a wrist in a collision. Randall Leal of Major League Soccer’s Nashville scored twice, and Manfred Ugalde, Bernald Alfaro and Aaron Salazar had one goal each.

“This could be World Cup qualifying. and I think we need to just be able to execute and be ready and not take our foot off the pedal. 22, the U.S. used a lineup mostly from eliminated Major League Soccer teams and had wide stretches of open space against 70th-ranked El Salvador in a match played outside the FIFA calendar and without top stars. Right back Julian Araujo also started in his debut, and defenders Marco Farfan and Kyle Duncan debuted as second-half substitutes. Aaronson got the lone goal of the second half in the 50th with a 12-yard right-foot shot from Lletget's pass.