Mexico and Japan are both in the Olympic semifinals for the first time in 44 years.
These teams, which met last month in a friendly, will each be trying to advance to the gold medal match for the first time Tuesday at Wembley Stadium.
The 1968 Mexico City Olympics represent the last time these nations reached this round. Both lost their respective semifinals, though Japan defeated the hosts 2-0 to capture the bronze.
Japan cruised past 10-man Egypt 3-0 in its semifinal Saturday. It is the only team left in the tournament that has not conceded a goal.
"Leading up to the Olympics, my aim was to beat the world," coach Takashi Sekizuka said. "We prepared immensely. Game by game we have been working very well together as a team. This has led to the good results so far. Basically, all we have to do is play like we have been playing."
Mexico did not allow a goal in the group phase, but blew a two-goal lead Saturday against Senegal before recovering to score twice in extra time to advance with a 4-2 win.
"What makes me happiest is the fighting spirit of our team, because we were leveled on the scoreboard and raised (our spirit) very well," coach Luis Tena told Mexico's official football website. "(It was) nothing to be depressed or anything, instead it was when we started playing better."
There won't be many surprises since these teams met July 21, with Yuki Otsu scoring the deciding goal in the 86th minute of Japan's 2-1 victory in Nottingham. Keigo Higashi scored Japan's first goal before Marco Fabian tied the game for Mexico.
"Japan is a very strong team, which beat us three weeks ago and won its match (Saturday) I guess, based on the scoreboard, with relative ease," Tena said.
Otsu and striker Kensuke Nagai each have two goals for Japan.
Nagai, though, picked up a left thigh injury while scoring against Egypt and had to leave in the 20th minute. He said it was a minor knock and he should be able to play Tuesday.
The 23-year-old is one of Japan's rising stars after spending part of his childhood learning the game in Brazil. He is anxious to test himself against the Mexicans.
"It is a good chance for me to estimate my pace and speed against a top team in the world," Nagai said. "They are a good attacking team obviously, at the same time they are loose in defense. That is where we should attack."
Mexico's brightest star is Giovani Dos Santos, who has scored three goals in the competition. His most important goal was his go-ahead strike in extra time Saturday.
"It's all about confidence," Dos Santos said. "It was really important that at 2-2 we never gave up, that we kept running and fighting until that third goal. We worked hard for this win and now we're on our way to a medal."
While the winner will stay in London for Saturday's gold medal match against South Korea or Brazil, the loser will travel to Cardiff, Wales for Friday's bronze-medal contest.
