The FIFA World Cup is without a doubt the biggest soccer tournament in the world. Continental tournaments are held every few years by each soccer confederation to find out just who is the best of the continent. At the end of the day, the winners of these incredible tournaments will eventually square off in the FIFA Confederations Cup, which is held once every four years.

The next Confederations Cup will be in Russia in 2017.

Four of the eight national teams have already been selected for the 2017 Confederations Cup. One of the missing countries is that of CONCACAF. As expected, Mexico and the United States will be the two North American countries fighting for that spot. Mexico won the Gold Cup not that long ago defeating Jamaica in the finals, but it was the USA who won it all in 2013 over Panama. Since the USA and Mexico both won Gold Cup championships since the last Confederations Cup, the two countries will play in a 'winner take all' game to represent North America.

That game will be played on Oct. 10 in Pasadena, California.

Mexico now has a new head coach after Miguel Herrera was fired due to a confrontation at a Philadelphia airport. Mexico has had trouble closing games lately, but it has a huge knack for not losing games. Mexico hasn't lost a single game in its last 10 matches dating back to the Copa America when it was not at full strength. In the last 10 games, Mexico has four wins and six draws.

Andres Guardado came alive at the Gold Cup for Mexico scoring huge goals for El Tri. His play was extremely critical given the fact that Javier Hernandez missed the entire Gold Cup. Fortunately for Mexican soccer fans, "Chicharito" is back in the starring lineup after his terrible injury against Honduras. As a matter of fact, Hernandez scored in his last game against Argentina, a friendly which ended 2-2. An impressive tie considering Mexico was facing Lionel Messi and the No. 1-ranked country in the world, but Mexico did blow a 2-0 lead with just 10 minutes left to play.

Mexico is the only North American country to win the Confederations Cup, doing so in 1999 over Brazil. It is worth noting that Mexico was the host nation that year and Ronaldo did not play for Brazil in that event. Brazil has won the last three Confederations Cup championships.

As for the United States, they haven't done a great job of closing games either. Jurgen Klinsmann's team has now lost three of its last four games, including disappointing losses to Panama and Jamaica in the Gold Cup. In its last game, the USA took on Neymar and Brazil, but was thrashed by a score of 4-1. The only goal the USA scored in that game came in extra time.

Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will have to find the net more often without Landon Donovan on the pitch. Surprisingly, Brad Guzman will start against Mexico next month instead of Tim Howard. Howard had a great World Cup showing, but Klinsmann is going in a different direction for the next game.

The other four known countries who will be participating at the 2017 Confederations Cup include Chile, Russia, Germany and Australia.

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