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It’s official. Sunil Gulati confirmed minutes after the United States clinched a spot in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, that the USMNT will host Mexico at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio to being the final round of World Cup qualifying.
U.S. soccer president Sunil Gulati confirms that Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio will host U.S.-Mexico on Nov. 11. #usmnt
— Doug McIntyre (@DougMacESPN) September 7, 2016
After beating Trinidad and Tobago, 4-0, on Tuesday night, the U.S. topped Group 3 and Mexico are guaranteed to win Group 1. Meaning that the two bitter rivals will face each other on November 11th, the first match day of the Hexagonal.
It should come as now surprise that U.S. Soccer would pick Columbus as their home venue for a Mexico match. It’s become a well-known tradition in American soccer that Columbus is their safe haven when it comes to the most difficult match they play at home. And every four years, the most difficult match is against Mexico in the Hex.
It should be another classic night with the USMNT in need of getting off to a good start in the Hex. If all goes according to plan, they would likely have to travel to Costa Rica the following week in their second Hex match. That’s not an easy task.