MEXICO CITY – As you drive down Avenida del Iman, Estadio Azteca looms over the horizon. From a distance, it looks like a giant birthday cake was dropped in the Santa Ursula neighborhood of Mexico City. As you get closer, the concrete supports look like the common arms of Mexico supporters, pushing up on the perimeter of the venue and off the ground. Once inside, the grandstand – despite its enormous size – feels claustrophobic and that doesn’t have any fans present.
On Thursday, Azteca – which has hosted two World Cup finals, in 1970 and 1986 – will welcome the latest incarnation of Clasico between Mexico and USA men’s teams at the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. In many ways, it felt like the end of an era.
Up to now, the match between two neighboring teams is the first matchup that fans are looking for when the schedule is announced. But change is coming. With both countries hosting the 2026 World Cup, along with Canada, there will be no qualifiers to look forward to for that tournament. By the time the 2030 qualifiers beckon, the World Cup will expand to 48 teams, which could result in the number of automatic qualifying spots from CONCACAF being doubled to six.
That’s right, the matches between the two CONCACAF heavyweights will always make sense. The desire for bragging rights will remain. But the stakes – at least in terms of World Cup spots – will ease, the damage from a loss less severe, and so some of the tension will dissipate.
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– Stream on ESPN+: FC Daily | Fubol Americas
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While such thoughts are focused on the future, it is the present that concerns the United States, and concerns surrounding Thursday’s encounter are indeed high. The two teams are equal on the table, in which the US leads only in goal difference.
The nerves of both teams are also blooming. Mexico is probably the more desperate side, and the US team’s home game against Panama on Sunday is more important in the overall picture of qualifications. But the result for either team will be an important step in the quest to achieve Qatar. Doing so at the expense of their competitors would be precious.
However for El TriPessimism is the rule of the day, in no small part due to the three-game losing streak that it is currently suffering against the US. The day before the match, the sports newspaper CNCHA gave Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi front and center (and above the Mexican players) with the caption “They have the edge over us”. Fox Sports Mexico’s Fernando Schwartz had a minute to explain why “Mexico is no longer the giant of CONCACAF.” At Universal Deportes, the headline reads “Weigh it”, begging El Tri to take advantage of its historic home ground.
This negativity has also seeped into everyday life. Luis, a local driver who traveled with ESPN colleague Cesar Hernandez, spoke at length about his frustrations with the current Mexico national team. While weaving in and out of Mexico City traffic, he discussed what he considered lacking the person who closes the lid (leaders) on El Tri’s team, and focus on the days when former greats like Rafael Marquez and Jorge Campos is still around. The fan violence interfered with a match between Queretaro and Atlas already be added overall gloom.
There are other concerns for El Tri. Depending on how things go in the game, offensive and anti-gay songs could rematch at Estadio Azteca this Thursday. Social media campaigns, such as #MexicoSinMundial (basically “#MexicoWithoutAWorldCup”) are trending on Twitter lately. But what are they? Bottom Line: Due to various complaints about the way Mexican football is run and managed, fans have made threats online about the use of anti-gay songs during the match against the United States, this could then harm the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).
Another factor about Azteca is location. Its monstrous altitude has weighed on the United States over the years, though that has eased in recent times. The US has only won once at this venue, with a score of 0-3-3 in World Cup qualifying. Team USA coach Gregg Berhalter even went so far as to say that the USA team’s record at Azteca was “terrible.”
That America will have to play without the injured quartet Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Matt Turner and Brenden Aaronson making it really a big task. But to look at it another way, the US is unbeaten in its past three games here: a draw in a World Cup qualifier before a friendly victory in 2012.
That’s what Max Croes, a 37-year-old political consultant from Helena, Montana, is focusing on. He has featured in all three of the past three games between the US and Mexico at the Azteca, and Thursday will be his fourth. “I’m a good luck charm,” he quipped. “I’ll do it. I’ll be satisfied with one point. I’ll lose my mind with three.”
Capacity was reduced to 50,000, the start time was at 8pm local time and the fact that some Mexican stars competed abroad further reduced the home advantage. For some US fans, that was actually seen as a disappointment.
“Into Azteca, it was a fortress,” says Heather Borjon, a middle school teacher from Orange County in California. “I’ve wanted to come here for so long. I’ve only gotten here until now, and it won’t even be the full experience with reduced occupancy like this. But here I am. So spring break. the most amazing ever.”
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The United States is bringing another tension. The ineligibility four years ago in Couva, Trinidad – essentially the Game-That-Won’t-Be-Named – still clings to the collective head of the US program, despite only four players on this list around for that defeat. One of those players, Paul Arriolasaid of Thursday’s game: “Fear was not felt in the group.”
However, that is not the case with “Night Before Party” organized by the pro-American group American Outlaws. Nervousness is showing – even as loads of beers are consumed – especially as it relates to US qualifying chances.
“I was very nervous,” said Michael Dovellos, a 29-year-old salesman from Chicago. “I think the burden of the final qualifying round is very heavy. I don’t want to raise my hopes again. But I don’t want to be too disappointed about it. I think we had a really good shot here. qualifying, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”
“I probably won’t eat or drink after 11 a.m. tomorrow,” says Stephanie Casiano, who works for a healthcare provider in San Antonio. “It’s going to be like, all nerves. But this is my 48th game, so I’m invested in this team.”
A first win at Azteca will generate a huge bonus.
With additional reporting by Cesar Hernandez.
