Azteca Stadium already sold out

• by Soccer America , Jul 29, 2009

[WORLD CUP 2010] The last time the USA traveled to Mexico City for a World Cup qualifier, on Easter of 2005, the Mexicans feared they couldn't sell out Azteca Stadium and pleaded through the media for "12th Man" support. Apparently thanks to Mexico's 5-0 rout of the USA last Sunday in the Gold Cup, enthusiasm for El Tri is high and Azteca Stadium is already sold out to its 105,000 capacity for the Aug. 12 qualifier.

Thanks to a walk-up ticket-buyers and lowered prices, the 2005 game that Mexico won, 2-1, did draw a near-capacity crowd. But this time around there won't be any worries on the Mexican side that it won't get full support.

"The Mexican national is grateful for the unconditional support of its No. 12, who always supports, motivates and encourages," the Mexican soccer federation (FMF) said in a press release.

Mexico is in fourth place at the halfway point of the Hexagonal and needs a win over the USA. The top three finishers qualify for the World Cup and the fourth-place team must play a two-game playoff against the fifth-place team in South America for a berth.