COLUMBUS — The United States Men’s National Team is returning to Crew Stadium on Tuesday, September 10 to face rival Mexico in the Hexagonal Round of CONCACAF Qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Thursday. The U.S. has never lost in the confines of Crew Stadium and holds a 3-0-0 record in three consecutive shutouts against El Tri in Columbus. The match is set to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed online via WatchESPN, with UniMas carrying the Spanish-language rights. Fans can also follow the action via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter (@ussoccer).
Details on how and when to purchase tickets for this match will be released at a later date. Additionally, Columbus Crew season ticket holders will have access to purchase tickets through an exclusive pre-sale opportunity.
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“When the draw came out and we had to discuss all of the venues for our home games, we thought immediately: Columbus is the place for Mexico,” said United States Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “Because of the past, because of the amazing fans in Columbus that give us such a big hand in such a crucial game.”
“There’s already history built in Columbus with that Mexico rivalry and the success gives the team confidence knowing we go into Columbus and this is the place to beat Mexico,” continued Klinsmann. “The crowd is amazing. The support throughout the city, you just feel it. It really is a big decision for us going to Columbus for this specific game against Mexico because we know we’re going to be at home.”
The U.S. holds an unbeaten all-time record of 6-0-3 at Crew Stadium dating back to 2000. Overall, Crew Stadium has hosted seven FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, with the U.S. collecting five wins and two draws. In nine matches in Columbus, the U.S. has surrendered only one goal and outscored its opponents 13-1 in that span. Just last season, Columbus was the site of the USA-Jamaica meeting in the CONCACAF Semifinal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, in which the U.S. captured a 1-0 victory over the Reggae Boyz in front of a sold-out crowd of 23,881 on September 11, 2012.
Crew Stadium has hosted the U.S.’s home qualifier against Mexico in the Final Round for the last three consecutive FIFA World Cup Qualifying cycles, with the United States collecting three identical 2-0 scorelines in 2001, 2005 and 2009. USA-Mexico matches have earned the nicknames of “Dos a Cero” for the 2-0 results and “La Guerra Fría” for the freezing temperatures during qualifiers in 2001 and 2009.
“Hosting USA-Mexico at Crew Stadium puts the U.S. in the best possible position for a home field advantage against its biggest rival,” said Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers. “We are set to deliver another large and passionate crowd and to lead the region in rallying around the excitement and pride this match will bring. World Cup Qualifiers add intrinsic value to our local team and community, supporting us in our efforts to reach Goal 10K – the drive toward 10,000 Crew season ticket holders. We’re honored to host this match, knowing what it means to our nation and everything it means to Crew Stadium and the Columbus Crew.”
The United States began play in the Hexagonal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying with a 2-1 road loss in Honduras on February 6. The September 10 match against Mexico is the eighth contest of the ten-match Hexagonal Round. The U.S. Men’s National Team’s next match takes place this Friday, March 22 when the U.S. hosts Costa Rica at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Col., which will air on ESPN2, WatchESPN and Univision networks. Columbus Crew striker Jairo Arrieta is with the Costa Rica National Team for that contest.
In the 60 previous meetings between the two countries, The United States is 16-32-12 all-time against Mexico. The U.S. defeated El Tri 1-0 for the first time on Mexican soil behind Michael Orozco Fiscal’s 80th minute tally in the last meeting on August 15, 2012 at Estadio Azteca.
Mexico is hosting the first leg of the rivalry in Hexagonal play on March 26 in Mexico City. The match is being televised on ESPN and Univision, as well as streamed via WatchESPN.
Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama join the United States and Mexico in the Final Round of CONCACAF Qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Each opponent meets twice, once at home and once away, in round robin play. Three teams automatically qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth place team will play in a two-leg playoff against the winner of the Oceania region. The United States has qualified for every FIFA World Cup since 1990 in Italy.
