U.S. Is Planning a Chilly Reception for Mexico Team
Having failed for two decades to defeat Mexico in World Cup qualifying play, the United States national soccer team is trying a new tactic.
Cryogenics.
U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that the American team’s first game of the final qualifying round, against Mexico, will be played on the night of Feb. 28 at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
The temperature at that time of year in that part of the country might well be below freezing, and the possibility exists for snow, sleet, ice, bone-chilling wind or all of the above.
In other words, it won’t be anything like Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where Mexico traditionally relies on the altitude and smog to give it an edge.
“I think it will provide a real home-field advantage for our team,” U.S. Coach Bruce Arena said in announcing the location for the first of 10 qualifying games for the U.S. in 2001.
The federation also is doing all it can to make sure the fans will be overwhelmingly behind the Americans. Crew Stadium holds 27,000 and tickets currently are being made available to only Crew season-ticket holders and U.S. Soccer supporters.
“We feel it’s likely there will be no tickets available for public sale on Jan. 19, when that is scheduled,” said Mark McCullers, Crew Stadium’s general manager. In other words, Mexico fans could be shut out.
Three teams from among Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. and either Costa Rica or Guatemala, will advance to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
“There isn’t one particular reason why we chose Columbus over other [venues],” Arena said. “There are a lot of factors that we considered, such as location, weather, stadium availability, TV time, our opponent and the rest of the schedule.
“After weighing all these factors we felt that Columbus is probably the best venue to give us the opportunity to win this important game.”
The U.S. has not beaten Mexico in a World Cup qualifying match in 20 years.
In qualifying play for the 1998 World Cup in France, the U.S. tied Mexico, 2-2, at Foxboro, Mass., and 0-0 at Mexico City.
“We’re used to cold weather,” Arena said. “It’s not going to be, hopefully, to our detriment. Obviously, we can’t predict the conditions. The night of the game it could be anywhere from 20 degrees to, I guess, 45 or 50 degrees. We feel comfortable in that kind of environment.
“The cold will help us as opposed to Mexico, but more important we will have a home-field venue and we expect most of that crowd to be cheering for the American team.”
