Photo by ISIphotos.com

The game most U.S. national team fans have been waiting months for is just a day away and it's time to start thinking about where people will be watching the match.

In 1998 the United States finished dead last in the World Cup. But truthfully that World Cup showed itself better in France than the current US team has performed of late. Despite an inability to finish chances in Steve Sampson's odd 3-6-1 formation, the US only conceded five goals in the entire World Cup.

The countdown to Azteca officially begins today for me, as we're just over a week away from the biggest game on the USMNT's 2009 World Cup qualification schedule. While I'm supremely excited for the...

The United States knew what they had to do tonight. One point was not an option. No points may have been the spark of whole sale changes to the US National Team (I will concede they would have had to wait until after the Mexico game at Azteca to make those changes). The US needed to respond big and get three points.

With a 25-0-1 record at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, it would have been wishful thinking for any fan or player from the United States to come away with a solid victory in the heat and smog south of the Rio Grande.

We have had a great deal of discussion this week about officials' bias in CONCACAF towards Mexico. However, I was a bit disappointed that many American fans see the US as a victim in all this. The truth be told, the US benefits from much of the same bias, albeit perhaps from different parts within CONCACAF.

On Wednesday August 12th of this year, the USA will play one of their biggest matches in several years - a World Cup qualifier at loathed rival Mexico, and their daunting 120,000 person capacity Estadio Azteca in the District Federal.

As the national team prepares for the World Cup Qualifier at Estadio Azteca – where the U.S. is 0-22-1 all-time – fans and observers alike should ...

Javier Aguirre took a chance on Miguel Sabah. Former Coaches Sven Goran Eriksson, Ricardo LaVolpe and Hugo Sanchez all hardly rated him lightly- it paid off big time today with a game winning goal.

Charlie Davies early goal gave the US an un-expected lead, but after that the American shape collapsed and defending was at times shambolic.

If you're like me, you immediately began to plan an "illness" when it was announced that the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier set for August 12th would go off at 3pm CT (4pm ET). I've got my excuse...

Our old friend Jamie Trecker is back at it, this time claiming a win in Mexico is a must. A win would obviously be fabulous for the reasons highlighted in Trecker's article, among others, but I'm with reader Josh (see comments in our last Trecker response) when he says he's a little tired of people expecting a win in Mexico, as if some dramatic shift has occured in American soccer, now making us favorites when we travel to Costa Rica and Mexico.

In light of today's news that mun2 will be available to many on the day of the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier at Azteca, I'm curious how the development effects those of you planning to watch/DVR the...

Wednesday's round of World Cup qualifiers started with the marquee matchup between the United States and Mexico at Estadio Azteca. With all the pressure on Mexico, who needed a win to get their qualifications hopes back on solid ground, the United States was looking to secure its first win in the altitude of Mexico City.

Look at these nice friends I made at a soccer game in Mexico City!

Ok, so it was much more than a friendly little match. Here's my story of a day I'll never forget.

Carlo, Chris, and I arrived in Mexico City the day before the match. We took it easy, knowing the following day would be quite an experience.

Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Baja California
TIJUANA.- Concluyel segundo d de acci en el Campeonato Sub-17 de Concacaf, el cual se juega en el Estadio Caliente, casa de Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente de la Primera Divisi ?A? del futbol mexicano, el resultado fue por dem escandaloso pero reflejlo que se observen la grama sint賩ca del inmueble tijuanense, 7-0 el marcador final.

We're less than 72 hours away from the U.S.-Mexico match at The Azteca and this is what EA decides to upload on Youtube?! A new clip from the as-yet unreleased FIFA10 with a verde-clad Blanco dropping his signature move and then scoring on our Timmy?! Ouch.
Either they've made a choice as to who they're siding with on Wednesday or they possess a significant lack of knowledge/sensitivity when it comes to soccer culture; how do you think the English market would react to a similar promo that featured Michael Ballack finishing off England just before they met in a crucial Euro qualifier?

A bee swarm in El Salvador's goal at the Azteca is extinguished. Mexico went on to win the game and qualify for World Cup 2010.

Photo credit: My television set.

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Sexy modelo edecanes Xolos Tijuana 9
Originally uploaded by prismatico Ya inicio el futbol mexicano en el Apertura 2009 y cayeron los primeros resultados, como verán este post ser ira actualizando. Por eso estas edecanes están discutiendo cual sera el equipo ganador de este torneo, casi igual que las predicciones y pronósticos que se han hecho en Futblog.

After absorbing everything from yesterday's 2-1 loss at Azteca, here are some final thoughts:

• It's disappointing but not damning. Six points against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago will make me forget about it.
  
• I know Mexican fans have a reputation for being bad, but I am thoroughly disgusted with what I read about here, and from Grant Wahl's little notebook (at the end).

This summer, U.S. National made the move from Hammarby IF of Sweden's Allsvenskan to FC Sochaux-Montbeliard in France's Ligue 1 after have a breakout performance with the U.S. National Team at this past Summer's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Davies made his debut for his new club today and what a debut it was.

Sunday's Gold Cup Final between the United States and Mexico at Giants Stadium is officially a sellout. The two teams face each other with new look squads, just weeks away from the World Cup Qualifier at Azteca. "I think it'll always bring out the emotion," US coach Bob Bradley said about playing Mexico.

2nd Half sub Carlos Vela Sparked Mexico's Outburst
Mexico scored 5 second half goals to win its 5th Gold Cup with a victory over the United States. Mexico did for the third time what the US has never done: win a Gold Cup on foreign soil.
For Mexico, this entire tournament was to see which players can help in the upcoming 5 qualifiers.

I really tried to care about the Gold Cup. After the group stages, I got pumped up; I told myself I was going to have the best Gold Cup commentary on the Internet. Then the United States played Panama in the quarterfinals and I fell asleep in about the 20th minute. Then the U.S. played Honduras is the semifinals and I fell asleep in about the 30th minute.

Not only will the US be facing their stiffest rivals in Mexico in front of a hostile crowd of 100,000+ supporters, but as SI's Grant Wahl reports, altitude has the potential of playing a major factor as well.
When I asked U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu what it's like to play in the Azteca, this is what he said: "I've tried to explain that to people who say, ‘You guys looked tired after 10 minutes.

Fans of the Red, White and Blue went into the 'Showdown at the Azteca' thinking not only was a result possible, but that result would be a win. Yes, I said the US would lose 3-0, but the fact remains I never thought the US would get a result. When...
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Photo by ISIphotos.com

U.S. national team star Landon Donovan has tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, Donovan told Sports Illustrated on Thursday.

When the U.S. men's national team takes the field in Honduras, it will see plenty of familiar faces on the opposing team, but the Americans will see an even more familiar face working the game as referee.

The match referee for Saturday's World Cup qualifier is Panamanian official Roberto Moreno, a referee who has become somewhat of a regular in U.

According to Grant Wahl's Twitter, ESPN does not own the rights to the big Mexico-US game from the Azteca on Aug. 12. The price is "extortionate".
Some people are taking this an yet another opportunity to talk about how much ESPN hates soccer, or ESPN sucks, or whatever else they want to blame ESPN for in the world (MJ?

If you weren't playing very close attention, you probably missed this: The Mexican football federation has set the start time for El Tri's World Cup qualifier against the US at Aztec in Mexico City...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Jul 24, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Gold Cup organizers have gotten their dream final and Mexico now remains the only thing standing in the way between the US and a third straight Gold Cup title. As if the rivalry between the US and Mexico wasn't caliente enough, the two sides will also play August 12th at Azteca.

It's World Cup qualifying day, and U.S.-Mexico has finally arrived. I don't even know where to begin to round-up all the articles out there on this game, and I'm not sure I could read another one, but I am counting down the hours to the game, despite the fact I'm hardly a wild partisan for either team.

Honduras can qualify for its first world cup in 28 years
Matchdays 9 and 10 are upon us here in our little corner of the world. I've knocked about a good number of proverbs and clichés to sum up what we have seen so far in the previous 8 matchdays. I've landed on "it's not how you start, but how you finish.

Soccer 365 is reporting that Jermaine Jones will be eligible to suit up for the United States after August 2. The previous report of October 1 was based on misinformation from FIFA.

This means that Jones would be able to play against Mexico at the Azteca on August 12, assuming his switch is approved by the FIFA Player Status Committee.

If you were hoping to see Jermaine Jones suiting up for the U.S. national team some time soon, you will have to wait a while longer.

The Schalke 04 midfielder and aspiring U.S. national team player has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his left leg after undergoing a scan to find the source of some lingering pain.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you were beginning to worry about being able to see the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier on August 12th in English, it appears your fears are about to subside.

Bob Bradley announces his 23-man roster for the big game against Mexico at the Azteca.

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named a roster of 20 players that will train in advance of the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mexico that will take place Aug. 12 in Mexico City. The U.S. seeks its first-ever victory on Mexican soil, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. CT at Estadio Azteca, famed for its grueling combination of altitude, smog and more than 100,000 spectators.

Join Minnesota supporters of the Men's National team, along with readers of Inside Minnesota Soccer.com, for a U.S. National Team watch party.

The US National team plays Mexico on Wednesday, August 12, at 2 p.m. CT kick-off at Estadio Azteca, famed for its grueling combination of altitude and smog.

With the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier just two days away, it is time for U.S. national team fans from all over the country to start converging on Mexico for the big game. American fans will be seriously outnumbered at Estadio Azteca on Wednesday, but that doesn't mean USA fans won't represent.

As the U.S. MNT gets ready to make the trip to Mexico for the Aug. 12 game at Azteca we've got some highlights from a few previous trips to Mexico City.
First up - March 27, 2005:
Playing their second qualifier of the final round on the road (the only team forced to start the round away for their first two games), the U.