The United States national team learned their fate for next year’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifying Hexagonal, and all hopes of hosting Mexico in some sour Ohio winter weather were dashed almost immediately.
Instead, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and the Americans will open play on the road in Honduras on Feb. 6, and then travel to Mexico City to take on El Tri on March 26. They’ll host Mexico on Sept. 10.
Most US fans are expecting Crew Stadium in Columbus to host the pivotal US-Mexico game on domestic soil, and some were hopeful that the US would get that chance in some potentially inclement Midwestern weather in February.
The US beat Mexico 2-0 in a February 2009 matchup in Columbus in wet and windy conditions in front of nearly 24,000 fans.
But history might still be on the US’ side, despite next year's late-summer matchup. The last time the US and Mexico played on American soil in a qualifier in September was in 2005, when the US won at Crew Stadium, 2-0.
The first US home game will be against Costa Rica on March 22, followed by home games against Panama on June 11, Honduras on June 18 and Jamaica on Oct. 11. The locations for US home games have not yet been announced.
The US will play on the road in Jamaica on June 7, Costa Rica on Sept. 6 and finish qualification on the road against Panama on Oct. 15.
US CONCACAF Hexagonal Schedule
Feb. 6 @ Honduras
March 22 vs. Costa Rica
March 26 @ Mexico
June 7 @ Jamaica
June 11 vs. Panama
June 18 vs. Honduras
Sept. 6 @ Costa Rica
Sept. 10 vs. Mexico
Oct. 11 vs. Jamaica
Oct. 15 @ Panama