World Cup Qualifying: Cincinnati the home for USMNT v. Mexico

New home for pivotal World Cup qualifying match

There’s only one home for Dos a Cero. And while the lore around Dos A Cero may have ended four years ago, for the United States national team, the World Cup qualifying home match against Mexico does have a new venue and it is staying in Ohio.

The United States national team World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on Nov. 12 will be in Cincinnati according to a release from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).  TQL Stadium, opened this year and home to FC Cincinnati, will host the match.

Ohio is no stranger to this match. In the previous five World Cup cycles, the state capitol of Columbus has been the site of the United States-Mexico match. The first four meetings of these two nations, considered to be the best in CONCACAF, were all by an identical 2-0 score line, leading to the Dos A Cero legend about this fixture.

“When you talk about great rivalries in our sport, USA-Mexico is one of the best,” U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter said in a statement released by the federation. “We are fortunate to have so many great venue options in this country, and for this match Cincinnati ticks all the boxes.”

“This is a special game that requires a special atmosphere, and we know it’s one that Cincinnati will provide.”

Now it turns out that the 2-1 win by Mexico in the last home qualifier meeting is to be the last (for now) in Columbus. That match, as well as the previous four in this series, were held at Mapfre Stadium, the home of Columbus Crew SC.

This match represents the first World Cup qualifying match in TQL Stadium history. The venue, one of the newest in MLS, has earned rave reviews. Minnesota’s Allianz Field was linked as a possible venue for the match.

Columbus was chosen in 2001 as a venue for the match, the most significant home match for the United States in qualifiers, due to being the first soccer specific stadium in MLS history. The smaller capacity limited the number of Mexican fans who could gain entry, providing one of the first true homefield advantages in United States soccer history.

Climate wise, the match should be a chilly reception for Mexico, with average nighttime temperatures in Cincinnati hovering a little over freezing. The average daily sunlight in November, around four hours, should also keep Mexico a bit uncomfortable in the match.

Previously, Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX was announced as the venue for the United States Oct. 7 match against Jamaica.