United States Men’s National Team to face Mexico to open CONCACAF Fifth Round qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, commonly known as the Hexagonal;
MAPFRE Stadium to host USMNT’s home Hexagonal match against Mexico for the fifth consecutive cycle

In conjunction with U.S. Soccer, MAPFRE Stadium today announced that it is set to welcome the United States Men’s National Team to America’s first soccer-specific stadium as the Stars & Stripes host Mexico to open CONCACAF Fifth Round qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The match takes place on Friday, November 11 at MAPFRE Stadium, the home of Columbus Crew SC, with the kickoff time to be announced. The contest will be broadcast on FS1 and Univision. Media credentialing information will be announced at a later date.

“Columbus looks forward to hosting the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team again,” said Greater Columbus Sports Commission Executive Director Linda Shetina Logan. “We enjoy our partnership with Columbus Crew SC for moments like these, when we can remind everyone just why both our city and MAPFRE Stadium continue to be a special place for U.S. Soccer.”

2017 Crew SC Full Season Ticket Members will have the opportunity to participate in a preferred purchasing process for tickets to this highly anticipated match. Specific instructions regarding the preferred Crew SC Membership process will be made available to 2017 Full Season Ticket Members via email as soon as possible.

This match begins what is commonly known as the Hexagonal for the USMNT, the final stage of qualification ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in Russia. The six remaining CONCACAF teams (United States, Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago) are set to play a double round robin, with the top three teams automatically qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the fourth-placed team advancing to an inter-confederation playoff against an Asian Football Confederation team for an additional spot in Russia.

MAPFRE Stadium is set to host the Stars & Stripes’ home clash against Mexico in the Hexagonal for the fifth consecutive cycle. Dating back to 2001, the USMNT is undefeated against Mexico in Hexagonal play at MAPFRE Stadium, winning each of the prior four clashes by a 2-0 scoreline.

All-time, the USMNT is an undefeated 8-0-3 at MAPFRE Stadium, with nine of those 11 matches having been qualification contests for the FIFA World Cup. The Stars & Stripes last played at America’s first soccer-specific stadium earlier this year on March 29, defeating Guatemala by a 4-0 score in Fourth Round CONCACAF qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

VIDEO RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA

B-ROLL FROM UNITED STATES VS. MEXICO MATCHES AT MAPFRE STADIUM: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXbroll (Please provide credit to U.S. Soccer/Wazee Digital)

UNITED STATES MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM HEAD COACH JÜRGEN KLINSMANN: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXKlinsmann (Please provide credit to U.S. Soccer/Wazee Digital)

COLUMBUS CREW SC SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH AND FORMER UNITED STATES DEFENDER GREGG BERHALTER: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXCrewSC (Please provide credit to Columbus Crew SC Communications)

COLUMBUS CREW SC ASSISTANT COACH AND FORMER UNITED STATES FORWARD JOSH WOLFF: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXCrewSC (Please provide credit to Columbus Crew SC Communications)

COLUMBUS CREW SC BRAND AMBASSADOR AND FORMER UNITED STATES DEFENDER FRANKIE HEJDUK: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXCrewSC (Please provide credit to Columbus Crew SC Communications)

UNITED STATES MIDFIELDER MICHAEL BRADLEY: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXBradley (Please provide credit to U.S. Soccer/Wazee Digital)

FORMER UNITED STATES MIDFIELDER CHRIS ARMAS: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXArmas (Please provide credit to U.S. Soccer/Wazee Digital)

FORMER UNITED STATES MIDFIELDER PABLO MASTROENI: http://bit.ly/USAvMEXMastroeni (Please provide credit to U.S. Soccer/Wazee Digital)

ABOUT MAPFRE STADIUM
MAPFRE Stadium is the first ever soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer (pronounced “MAH-fray” Stadium). It opened its doors on May 15, 1999 to a sellout crowd for a match against the New England Revolution. It has hosted numerous national and international events: nine U.S. Soccer FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – specifically four consecutive “Dos a Cero” victories for the U.S. over Mexico (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013) – FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, the 2001 MLS Cup, the 2015 MLS Cup, two MLS All-Star Games and a number of concerts, including the annual three-day festival Rock on the Range, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean. It was named the world’s most influential stadium of the decade by Stadia Magazine in 2010, and has won a Sports Turf Managers Association Field of the Year Award in 2010, 2013 and 2015. In 2008, the venue added a permanent stage in the North End, allowing for up to 35,000 fans to take in concerts and other marquee events. MAPFRE Stadium received its current name in a historic partnership announced just before the 2015 MLS season. For more information, visit www.MAPFREStadium.com.