It’s hard enough playing a World Cup qualifier at Estadio Azteca, the mammoth den to Mexican soccer for more than a half-century. History, sound and fervor conspire against visitors, compounding the challenge of beating a world-class national team.
Depending where you’re standing in the vast metropolis, Mexico City is at least 7,200 feet, some 2,000 higher than Denver.
On Thursday, the U.S. men’s squad will visit Azteca for its 12th of 14 qualifiers in a regional competition that will reward three automatic berths in Qatar in November.
“I remember thinking in warm-ups it wasn’t so bad,” former U.