I book my flight in last night. Waiting for kickoff time to be announced, and see if I can head back Sunday night after the game or go back Monday.
saw somewhere that the game might be played at night (or late afternoon), as a compromised by the feds that allows the game to be moved up 2 days. fyi.
Flight and hotel booked about three months ago. Have a good feeling about this cycle for some reason...
Long time reader of big soccer but decided to get an account again... First time heading to DF for this match, what avenues do you all suggest for tickets to the match?
If you're a member of the supporter's club, you'll be getting tickets updates from the fed otherwise, watching this thread will clue you in with info on tix sales. Last cycle was no problem getting tickets and to this date, it has been the largest traveling group and the section they gave us in the stadium was barely half full so I don't see a problem this cycle either.
So I'm hearing this game might not be played at Azteca. Just rumors, but this would be a big bummer. Is it safe to buy tickets to D.F. right now?
I didn't suggest that route because last cycle (IIRC) they only sold tix via their travel package. They even had a "ground only" package for those that didn't need hotel and it still was ridiculously overpriced!! No doubt in my mind that you'll score a tix if you keep watching this thread
For those of you who've gone in the past, do most of the US fans stay at the same hotel and take the same buses to/from the stadium? If so, which group/s organize the hotels and buses? Last thing I want to do is take the Mexico City subway back to my hotel after a 2-0 victory for the Yanks.
the only thing 'organized' will be the AO package. Last time they did a full package (hotel, etc), and a bus-only portion (to/from the game). In that case they all stayed at same hotel, everyone else is on our own. The main issue for me has always been: getting out of the stadium from the supporters section. Everyone is escorted out together straight to the AO buses or to paddywagons where they took the straglers to the nearest Metro station. It wasn't dangerous to be honest, just mostly chaotic.
If I go in June, it will be my fourth US/Mex WCQ at Azteca (confirmed?). 2005 alone, 2009 with wife, 2013 with wife and two friends. Each time, I took public transit to and from the stadium. No worries, except that the crowd size back to the light rail after the match can be a bit daunting. Patience, grasshopper. Any tension is directed towards the large organized US supporters group. Once away from that group, you will almost definitely have only positive interactions unless you taunt people. The hardest part is breaking free from the US group. In 2005, there was no issue. In 2009, we sneaked through the police line at the bottom of the ramp and headed in the opposite direction to the light rail. Read later about the famous trip to the metro in the police van. In 2013, we walked, under police escort, all the way to the end of the parking lot, where the AO buses were waiting. We ran out of parking lot, came up against the fence and a gate which let us out of the grounds in an unfamiliar area, so I said, "Let's go back the other way." We did that to an uneventful trip back into town on public transit, except for a nice conversation with a Mexican/American guy in Mexico gear who worked for Penny from "The Big Bang Theory". Do whatever makes you most comfortable. AO will have a very expensive all inclusive package. Mexico City has accommodations at all price ranges from hostels with bunk beds to 12 star luxury hotels. It is a very manageable city. AO had a ground only package last time, which a poster above reminded was ridiculously expensive.
We're also planning on independently taking the Metro to and from the match, as we did in 2013. The AO bus package was $80, while the subway ride is maybe $3, so it was a no-brainer for us. Like Eddie says, be respectful and friendly (and keep a thick skin / light heart for an occasional taunt), and you won't have any problems. The same rule that applies to every other sporting event. Most people will be far more interested in asking where in the US you came from, what you think of the city, taking pictures with you, etc. I've been harassed far more when wearing a Penguins jersey to hockey playoff games in New York, Philly, and DC than I was that night in my USA jersey. Any real hostility is reserved for the main supporter's group, both because of its size and .... umm... "boisterousness". It's important to note you'll be in together with this larger group during the match and for the police-escorted exit from the stadium (link). There's the small caveat that obviously none of us have been to a USA qualifier victory at Azteca, which could change things a bit. My guess is in that case, the police would hold the US section in the stadium until most Mexico fans clear out. Honestly though, in my days as a visiting fan across many different sports, I've always seen more hostility after home team victories. If you're really concerned, wear an undershirt and take off your USA jersey/gear after the game (assuming you're not decked out in a stars-and-stripes onesie).
FIFA's updated site indicates that Estadio Azteca will host the match; however, no kickoff time: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/all-matches.html I'm unsure that this information is definitive. Neither the US Soccer nor Concacaf websites has venue/time information.
I don't see anyone else reporting this, so it doesn't seem credible. That being said, he has 30,000 + followers, so he probably isn't a total fraud.
He's an actual journalist. My Spanish isn't great and very little in the Anglo press but supposedly it's going to the court of arbitration for sport. Don't see this game being affected but maybe a later one.
So here's an article in Spanish confirming there is worry that the game may be kicked out of Azteca, and even a suggestion fans may be banned from the next game regardless of where it is played. http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/2...descarta-un-veto-al-azteca-por-el-eh-********