Bitter rivals U.S., Mexico soccer to play what may be their final showdown at Azteca

There isn’t any tougher place for the U.S. nationwide crew to play than Estadio Azteca, Mexico’s iconic fortress dwelling and the biggest soccer stadium in Latin America.

If the warmth, the altitude and the passionate Mexican followers don’t get you, the smog will.

“The final time we performed, we had gamers very sick after the sport,” stated Bruce Area, who coached the U.S. in three World Cup qualifiers at Azteca with out profitable a sport. “I bear in mind strolling out within the tunnel and Kellyn Acosta was doubled over puking.

“It’s, uh, difficult.”

It’s additionally why the U.S.-Mexico rivalry is among the many most intense in worldwide sports activities, one which turns particularly bitter when the stakes are excessive as they are going to be Thursday when the groups in Azteca with a World Cup berth up for grabs.

The duel may quickly lose a few of its luster if that sport proves to be the final one the groups play in Mexico Metropolis throughout World Cup qualifying.

Each nations, together with Canada, are anticipated to get automated berths within the 2026 event since they’re internet hosting it, precluding a qualifying event. And by 2030, with the World Cup area at 48 groups and the variety of assured CONCACAF entrants doubling to 6, the present qualifying format must change.

What type that may take, no one is aware of.

“At this level,” a U.S. Soccer spokesman stated, “the World Cup qualifying course of after 2026 has not been decided.”

However will probably be totally different, with one doubtless situation requiring separate qualifying teams much like the format presently in place in Europe. And so long as Mexico and the U.S. stay the area’s prime two groups within the FIFA world rankings, they might head totally different teams for the ultimate spherical, which means they might not play each other.

“It is going to definitely influence the rivalry,” stated Landon Donovan, who performed in 40 World Cup qualifiers, together with two in Mexico the place he was as soon as pelted by Coca-Cola cups that contained … nicely, let’s simply say it wasn’t a tender drink. “Principally it hurts the followers on either side’ capacity to speak about who’s the perfect crew in CONCACAF. While you play one another, there’s a barometer. While you don’t, [it’s] extra subjective.

“It’s too unhealthy as a result of these video games are, on either side, among the most memorable video games, moments, and so on. It’s disappointing.”

A change within the qualifying format wouldn’t cease the U.S. and Mexico from taking part in in different circumstances. The rivalry would proceed within the biennial CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Nations League and with common friendlies. However the stakes in these video games are a lot decrease than a World Cup qualifier. And most, if not all, of them can be performed within the U.S., the place Mexico has a profitable promotional cope with Soccer United Advertising and marketing.

That’s why the U.S. has performed only one sport in Mexico that wasn’t a qualifier within the final 22 years.

“It’s a particular as a result of it’s distinctive,” Gerardo Torrado, sporting director for the Mexican soccer federation and a veteran of three World Cups, stated of the quadrennial Mexico Metropolis qualifier.

“Qualifying for a World Cup all the time, it’s one thing particular. However having the possibility to qualify in opposition to your rival makes it extra particular.”

If Thursday’s sport does show to be the ultimate qualifier in Azteca, not less than the sequence is ending with a bang. Each groups come into the match with 21 factors and trailing Canada within the eight-team desk with three video games remaining. Solely three CONCACAF groups are promised spots on this fall’s World Cup in Qatar, and with Panama and Costa Rica nonetheless within the hunt, this sport is one neither Mexico nor the U.S. can afford to lose.

The strain could also be biggest on Mexico. El Tri shall be taking part in earlier than a restricted crowd of about 47,000, a little bit greater than half the stadium’s listed capability, robbing it of a few of its homefield benefit. Capability was restricted as a result of Mexico was implementing a FAN ID system within the wake of FIFA sanctions leveled over followers’ repeated use of an anti-gay slur.

Mexico additionally misplaced thrice to the U.S. in 2021, one thing that’s by no means occurred in the identical calendar yr earlier than. With the People lacking 4 starters to harm, one other Mexican loss — this time in Azteca, greater than a 1.3 miles above sea degree and a spot the place the U.S. has received simply as soon as in its historical past — may price coach Tata Martino his job, stated Telemundo soccer analyst Miguel Gurwitz, who has lined the nationwide crew for 20 years.

“Mexico, they’ll’t lose,” Gurwitz stated. “It’s not proper to lose each single sport they play with the U.S. These 90 minutes are going to be essential for Martino.”

It wasn’t all the time like this. U.S. versus Mexico was as soon as as one-sided as hammer versus nail. The People received the primary assembly in 1934, then received simply 4 of 40 matches over the following 64 years.

The U.S. has had the sting since 2000 although, going 17-9-6, together with a victory within the spherical of 16 on the 2002 World Cup. And that has raised the significance of the cross-border competitors by making it about nationwide delight as a lot because it’s about soccer.

“The U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry is, for my part, essentially the most distinctive rivalry in worldwide sports activities,” stated Jon Weinbach, president of Skydance Sports activities, who’s producing a documentary sequence on the U.S.-Mexico rivalry. “There’s nothing fairly prefer it, the place you’ve gotten these problems with identification and belonging and race and tradition and politics between two geographic neighbors that’s so current on the sphere.

“I can’t consider anyplace else on the earth the place you’ve gotten genuine border rivals.”

The Mexican sports activities day by day Récord printed a full-page image of Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic, the 2 U.S. aim scorers, beneath a daring headline in Spanish that learn, “They’re Higher. Say Hiya to the New Big.”

Preserving that alive is one thing CONCACAF and FIFA will doubtless attempt to do once they work out World Cup qualifying procedures past 2026. They might resolve on a single-table event, for instance, much like what the South American confederation makes use of. That might guarantee the U.S. and Mexico sq. off twice in qualifying each 4 years.

However the CONMEBOL competitors, by which the ten South American member nations battle for 4 World Cup spots, requires 90 matches performed over two years. CONCACAF has 41 members who can be taking part in for six spots, so it will want an extra play-in event and doubtless a much bigger area for the ultimate spherical. That would make a CONMEBOL-like format unwieldly.

Will the rivalry endure if World Cup qualifying is not part of it? Weinbach doesn’t suppose so.

“World Cup stakes all the time imply one thing. Nevertheless it’s not the one factor,” he stated. “The rivalry in some methods has matured past simply these World Cup qualifiers. Anytime the U.S. and Mexico play on this sport, it means one thing. It might be a youth exhibition sport. If it’s U.S. and Mexico taking part in, it’s received that edge and it’s received that cultural context.”

Michael Orozco, a former nationwide crew defender who scored the aim in the one sport the U.S. received in Azteca, disagrees.

“They shouldn’t let go of a large sport that catches eyes from everywhere in the world,” he stated. “All people seems at this [game]. You’ve received the entire political aspect, you’ve received the entire soccer aspect. Everybody desires to observe this sport. All people desires to be concerned on this sport.

“It doesn’t simply occur inside these 90 minutes. It’s type of constructing into it, the speak, feelings. That’s what soccer ought to be about, the Tremendous Bowl. The U.S. in opposition to Mexico on the Azteca is virtually that.”