What can tied-for-second 颅sa国际传媒 (1-0-2) expect today when it steps into one of the great cacophonous cathedrals of 颅soccer for its key CONCACAF final-round 2022 World Cup qualifying game against world top-10 Mexico (2-0-1) at 6:40 p.m. PT p.m. on Sportsnet?
Two people who know are Pacific FC striker Alejandro Diaz, who played on the home side in Azteca Stadium for Club America in Mexico鈥檚 top-tier Liga MX, and University of 颅Victoria Vikes head coach Bruce Wilson, who captained sa国际传媒 several times at Azteca against Mexico in World Cup qualifiers.
It all depends on what side you are.
鈥淚t is a magical and historical place,鈥� said Diaz.
Well, if you鈥檙e in Club America or Mexican national team colours, that is. It鈥檚 quite a different feeling on the visitors鈥� sideline.
鈥淚t is intimidating and it鈥檚 very difficult to play there,鈥� said Wilson, part of a history in which sa国际传媒 has never won at Azteca.
鈥淚t is unbelievable to walk out in front of more than 100,000 people.鈥�
The seating bowl is almost overwhelming, Wilson said: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 believe how high it goes almost straight up all around you.鈥�
Canadian head coach John Herdman described Azteca as 鈥渁 great arena for any footballer to play,鈥� but believes his world No. 51 team can flip the script against the No. 9 Mexicans.
鈥淲e come in here with everything to gain and nothing to lose because at the end of the day, sa国际传媒 is always meant to get beat by Mexico. I think this group of players is ready to rewrite the narrative,鈥� he said, on sa国际传媒 Soccer Twitter.
鈥淸Mexico] has all the expectation. I鈥檝e got every confidence this group can take any team. We have to embrace the occasion mentally going into the Azteca against a formidable opponent. I see it as a genuine opportunity for our team and country to step forward. Technically, we have to be excellent, but believe we can win this match. We can dare to lose to win.鈥�
But there鈥檚 the noise to 颅contend with.
鈥淪ometimes, you can鈥檛 hear your teammates,鈥� said Diaz.
鈥淵et you get used to it when you play there enough.鈥�
It all adds up to the 颅greatest home-field advantage in 颅CONCACAF.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great for the local team [America] and the [Mexican] national team,鈥� said Diaz.
He will get no argument from Wilson: 鈥淚t鈥檚 very hard on visiting teams, and Mexico is very difficult to play inside Azteca.鈥�
But at least one person believes anything is possible today. None of Pacific FC head coach Pa-Modou Kah鈥檚 10 caps as a player were in CONCACAF 鈥� he played in UEFA World Cup and Euro qualifying for his adopted Norway 鈥� but he sees the potential for a mighty upset.
鈥淭his is not the same old sa国际传媒 team,鈥� said Kah, of its several emerging young stars with European clubs, such as
鈥渟a国际传媒 needs to be fearless, as it was in going to the U.S. to take a point [in Nashville]. sa国际传媒 can get a point at Azteca, and I believe it has the quality to get three points, if it goes in strong and without fear.鈥�
Those hopes were echoed by Herdman, who described his charges as 鈥渇ocused and 颅optimistic.鈥�
