Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Mexican Football Federation has announced that the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier in Mexico City on Aug. 12th will start at 4pm (ET). No word yet on what led to that decision, which is odd for a Wednesday game.
The 3 p.m. local time kickoff should mean that the game will be played in hot and humid conditions at Estadio Azteca. When Mexico defeated the United States in Mexico City in 2005, the match was played at noon, which led to very hot and muggy conditions. (Okay, so maybe I'm not a weatherman. A quick check of The Weather Channel tells me that the average high temperature in Mexico City in mid-August is mid-70s. The 2005 qualifier was played in March). So why is this game being played so early? To better manage crowd violence if the United States actually wins?
What do you think of this news? Think Mexico is getting desperate? Does that start time make you more likely to make the trip to Mexico City? Will you be skipping work to watch this crucial World Cup qualifier? What's your best excuse for missing work to watch a mid-day soccer game?
Share your thoughts below.
If it becomes a failed state, which it won’t, it will be because of the reasons I mentioned,
I did make the mistake of stating the per capita instead of total murder rate!
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur-crime-murders
desperation is a stinky cologne
Don’t tell me any of you are surprised by this.
I also hope some of you remember that just a couple of weeks ago we were all bemoaning the end of U.S. soccer and calling for Bradley’s head. Mexico is at that point right now, except they’ve already got a new coach. I suspect that after this Gold Cup Mexico will have a much better sense of what their best team will look like.
Mexico also has an uncanny ability to bring their best soccer when the pressure from great teams is on (see: Copa America 2007 and their match against Argentina in the 2006 WC). August 12th won’t be a blowout.
As a Mexico/U.S. fan rooting for both teams to make it into the World Cup, I’ll be hoping for a tie.
Anyone know how to watch the game in Africa? I will be Togo for the game and dont want to miss it. Internet is slow but I thought maybe satellite tv?
How did the FMF get this past Univision? They sold television rights, and then are devaluing the television ratings for Univision’s biggest Mexico game of the entire World Cup cycle.
Goooooooooooooal! Mexico!
Mexico should do whatever it takes to enhance their home field advantage. I have no problem with that whatsoever.
USA needs to go train in La Paz Bolivia for two weeks before the game.
Can’t wait until 8/12! I bought a ticket through OleOle. Not staying at the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel, but closeby. Taking the gringo bus. USMNT come into the match with a lot of confidence. I would not get too overconfident. A desperate and inspired Mexico side at Azteca will be tough to beat. USMNT needs to play a composed and confident game to weather the challenging conditions. Now’s the time to beat Mexico in a WCQ on Mexican soil!
IvanG,
I am all for using stats to make a point, but you are WRONG. Nice try though.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita
Nice try. May be nasty to say things like what HM said but the truth is, Mexico is one of the few countries with a good economy, that could become a FAILED STATE. Probably not going to happen but it is possible.
HM-
If the US didin’t have the dubious distinction of being the largest consumers of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in the world, then maybe Mexico and it’s people would be more at peace. Murders? The United States has more murders per capita every year then Mexico, so don’t forget to pack your gun before you leave your trailer park OK!
Your comments are ignorant, biased and dumb, and have no place in a site dedicated to the beautiful game!!!
is it true that Donovan is suspended for the game? espndeportes says he is, i haven’t found anyone else that says he is
This is a little bit random of a question, but is there an official USMNT store anywhere or is it only limited to online?
Apparently in Mexico the drug trafficking duties end at 2p CT. Enough time to commit a murder and head over to the stadium.
Ives Can you please explain the TV situation for this game? I am hearing ESPN does not have the rights yet.
It better be on espn. I like the early start too.
i live in mexico city, it is definitely neither hot or humid here normally in August, much hotter in the US
Columbus and Salt Lake are the two markets where the stadium gets filled and includes 90% USA supporters.
“If they can’t come up with a real reason, then I’ll just assume they’re weird. To punish them, we should play our games in Alaska.
Posted by: David | July 09, 2009 at 06:16 PM
”
word
I was out in San Fran in March and caught some FA Cup matches at Danny Coyle’s. Was a pretty decent place to watch a match.
They really are doing everything they can to gain an advantage. The MFF still hasn’t released tickets to the USSF. Hooray.
This is the same thing with the Hondurans who invade our stadiums. They make A LOT of noise, winning the singing battle between fans, but the bottom line is the final score. 2-1, 2-0 speaks louder than that damn whistling.
US 2 Mexico 1
Stay classy Mexico
To the idiot who thinks we chose Columbus for its “arctic”-like climate… We choose Columbus because it’s the closest thing the US has to a home field advantage, because everywhere else, Mexicans will flood in like the Honduras game last night, where they outnumbered us 2-1 by the way. Why they chose 4pm, I have no clue. The city is higher than most, but time doesn’t change that, it is 70-80 degrees usually (as pointed out), and if they’re doing this from a financial point of view to get more gate sales, then fine.
If they can’t come up with a real reason, then I’ll just assume they’re weird. To punish them, we should play our games in Alaska.
Or, in SF, you could try going into the Mission and do some taunting.
dos a cero
In short they said the switch in game time won’t affect the outcome. They said Donovan’s absence will be the deciding factor. They also say that the US is much stronger team right now. Damn, they are trying to jinx us.
Crazy steve the best way to get to the Aztec Stadium is via metro, you can get a map of the metro routes and youll be there faster than with a cab or with other collective transportations such as the buses, I lived there for a long time so I know Mexico city pretty well, if anyone wants more info. I can provide certain clues… a cab should be a good way to get there too but youll need to avoid the rush hours, around 2 and 3 o’clock…
http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/broadband/video/clipDeportes?id=861024&categoryid=834507
Here is a link in spanish from ESPNDeportes talking about the switch in game time two weeks ago.
Thanks for SF suggestions!
I love this time. Love it. My league has the final on Aug.12th and the Qualifier, if it were a “normal” time, would have conflicted. I looked at the calendar yesterday and almost cried thinking I wouldn’t see the game live. Now I can—-sweet! It’s a crappy time for most people but this is just perfect for me if my team makes it the our league final.
Dos a cero!!
OK, well, I’m taking half the day off then.
I gotta party for this one! Er, like I do most of the time 🙂
Where in downtown San Francisco should I eat lunch on Aug. 12? (Seriously, does anyone know where it might shown?)
Steffs (2nd St. and Mission St.), Royal Exchange (Sacramento St. and Front St.) and any of the others previously mentioned. You won’t have a problem finding a bar/grill showing it or turning it on for you.
NOOOO!!!
I booked a flight earlier that day so that I would be on the ground for game time! Damn gamesmanship!
The time change has been harshly criticized by the commentators ESPN Deportes en Espanol. According to them, the reason for the time change is to screw the US team because the guys are not used to playing in hot weather.
Whatever time I am watching. Work? I just blocked off my calendar and will walk across the street to a sweet bowling alley in Uptown Charlotte NC.
Hokie,
I tried to count the number of times they cut to a close up of a player as the ball was still in play…. infuriating
“The USSF is dragging their feet on selling tickets. In 2005 I was able to order a ticket straight through ussoccer.com and they fed-exed it to me, real easy. Now they want you to go through OleOle travel and pay 3 times as much as it should cost or join their ‘fan-club.’ I just want a ticket!!! arrgghh.”
No Lie.. Were headed down as a large group with airfare paid and hotel rooms booked.
What is USSoccer bug?
GIVE UP THE TICKETS!!!!!!!
@Crazy Steve
Azteca is a long long way from Reforma. The only public transport I know involves taking the metro blue line to Taxquena (end of the line) and then a light rail to the stadium. I would just hire a car or hop on the gringo bus.
The USSF is dragging their feet on selling tickets. In 2005 I was able to order a ticket straight through ussoccer.com and they fed-exed it to me, real easy. Now they want you to go through OleOle travel and pay 3 times as much as it should cost or join their ‘fan-club.’ I just want a ticket!!! arrgghh.
This idea Americans have that Mexico City is hot and humid, just shows how most Americans think that all of Mexico (a country three times the size of Texas) is Cancun!!!
it was like nearly 60 degrees at gametime in Columbus, i was there… lucky it didn’t backfire… that was the greatest night of my life
Bring it!
4 p.m., 2 p.m., midnight, whatever.
This is the year the Azteca Curse ends and El Tri miss the WC.
I’ll be setting up a very important meeting – out of the office of course – with one Mr. Javier Aguirre. My boss won’t ask questions beyond that…
Hey that means heading to the stadium earlier in the day
Yeah, last night’s Gold Cup feed looked like I was watching through Van Gogh’s eyes.
I don’t think there is any way that ESPN won’t get the game, but if they don’t and I have to watch the game with the quality of last night’s Gold Cup feed, there will be HELL TO PAY. Anyone vomit from the feed last night and/or the play of Adu? Just kidding he was ok/not that bad, but he needs to stop his turnovers.
As much as I’d love a win, I can’t see the ref letting us get out of there with more than a tie. He’ll buy their diving, for sure.
Downtown SF, you can also watch at Schroeder’s or the Royal Exchange, I’m sure.
Next thing to come out of the FMF:
“The FMF has announced today that the World Cup qualifier on August 12th will be played in 1995, the place where Mexican dominance over the US was last witnessed.”
The start time–I wouldn’t call it “desperation”.
Just I woudln’t call making them play our home leg of the WCQ semis in Columbus “desperate”.
You could play this game in Death Valley at high noon, it doesn’t matter. The US is the fittest team in CONCACAF
Like others have said, it’s not the heat. It’s the smog more than anything.
Total desperation. They’re just announcing to the US that they’re afraid of us. Such poor poker skills.