Top-Five Toughest Places To Play In CONCACAF
'Good luck' getting a point on the road at any of these host stadiums
Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers is underway. In the world of Concacaf only a handful of teams are able to field a roster that is capable of striking fear in the heart(s) of any opponent. Despite being a lack of parody amongst the teams in this confederation there is one great equalizer…’the 12th man.’
The Concacaf region is known for consisting of passionate soccer nations. What some of these national teams lack on the field in skill is made up in the raucous environments produced by it(s) fans.
In this article of State Of Soccer Weekly will be counting down the ‘Top-5 Toughest Places To Play In Concacaf.’
From North America, Central America, and the Caribbean comes five host nations that bring it each & every match.
How Does The Ranking Work
Since this topic is very much documented, I will be relying on research & player feedback to determine which atmosphere(s) are the toughest in Concacaf. My main objective is to simply classify the toughest places to play. This is defined as the most challenging nations to face on their home soil & subsequently earn a point.
From playing conditions, fans, and sporting traditions this list won’t disappoint.
Let’s Get Started!
#5) Independence Park; Kingston, Jamaica
Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica can be overlooked. This stadium has earned itself the nickname ‘the office,’ but not because there is any humor associated with this park. The Jamaicans named Independence Park ‘the office’ because ‘no one comes to your office and bosses you around.’
This particular ‘office’ also holds up to 35,000 screaming, passionate fans of the ‘Reggae Boyz.’ If thousands of passionate supporters doesn’t make playing here tough enough then how does the smell of marijuana permeating from the crowd sound?
According to one former Jamaican National Team player & MLS veteran Dane Richards, this is a purposeful tactic by the Jamaican supporters:
“They say when they come there, they smell marijuana. We get them high and then we try to beat them. It's a really good atmosphere.”
This was of course said in a joking matter by Richards but playing down in Kingston against Jamaica is no joke. The conditions are never favorable for an opposing Concacaf opponent. Back in the 2012 World Cup Qualifiers the USMNT would fail to beat the ‘Reggae Boyz’ on the road in Independence Park losing 2-1.
#4) Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica; San José, Costa Rica
Before I get started with #4 I think it is important to point out that Costa Rica no longer plays its home matches at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium. If Saprissa Stadium was still in the picture it would certainly be higher up on this list but for this article, we will focus in on present day.
Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica might not have the same atmosphere as Ricardo Saprissa Stadium but it is still a very challenging place to play. With a capacity just over 35,000 it is home to one of Concacaf’s more challenging sides ‘Los Ticos,’ the Costa Rica National Football Team. Los Ticos are already challenging enough to defeat on their home soil, but how does doing it at the first modern sport arena ever to be built in Central America sound?
There is certainly a lot of passion for the sport in San José, Costa Rica. Los Ticos supporters know that they have to live up to their reputation for being intimidating & their passion reverberates in their state of the art stadium. Not to mention Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica is situated on a plateu in the central valley of Costa Rica. This means that opposing teams must also be ready to compete at >3,000 feet of altitude amongst the heat & humidity of a Central American nation.
#3) Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano; San Pedro Sula, Honduras
San Pedro Sula, Honduras is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Up until early 2016 it was known as the “murder capital of the world.” Now this article isn’t going to hone in on San Pedro Sula’s crime statistics, but I think it is important to highlight this factor given that it is very intimidating place to play.
Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano holds up to just over 37,000 screaming Hondura supporters. To make matters worse the Honduras National Team typically schedules its opponents to play in the middle of the afternoon. The heat and humidity can make for a challenging place to play but when you throw in some of the most raucous fans Central America, San Pedro Sula becomes increasingly more difficult on the road. With barbed wire a-top the fences separating the supporters from opposing teams, visiting nations surely are shaking in their boots. For the USMNT they aren’t at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas anymore.
#2) Estadio Cuscatlán; San Salvador, El Salvador
If you witnessed the USMNT vs. El Salvador World Cup Qualifier match on Thursday, September 2nd then you know that Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador is arguably the toughest place to play in Concacaf.
If the field conditions aren’t tough enough to play on, how does the constant crackle of fireworks sound? In fact Estadio Cuscatlán is such a tough place to play that former Mexican National Team legend & MLS villain, stated this:
“Whoever's been there and seen how intense a game can be for Mexico can tell you. [The atmosphere] is perhaps what pressures you the most, what's most impressive about playing there.”
This quote came following a 2014 Mexico victory against El Salvador for only the 2nd time in 15 years at Estadio Cuscatlán. Aside from the loud crowd and riot guards surrounding the field, the El Salvador fans are also known to tailgate outside of opposing teams hotel(s). At night the supporters make as much noise as possible to keep the away teams from sleeping.
Talk about a nightmare.
Honorary Mention: Multiple Venues; United States Of America
The United States Men’s National Team is blessed with multiple venues scattered across the U.S. This has its positives and negatives for the USMNT. Although there isn’t one official stadium for the U.S. when it comes to hosting Concacaf opposition…Historic Crew Stadium became a venue the USMNT would point towards when in need of a ‘3 points,’ especially against rival Mexico.
This stadium became somewhat of a bastion for the U.S. During it ‘heyday’ it featured 10 World Cup qualifying matches…most notoriously four ‘2-0’ victories over El Tri, the Mexican National Team.
Outside of Columbus, Ohio the United States plays host to several stadiums. The USMNT is typically greeted with an almost inaugural reception amongst it’s fans since the team bounces form city-to-city. In a strange way this can play to the advantage of the United States. Not only is the USMNT extremely difficult to beat on their home soil but for visiting teams, the rotation of stadiums makes for an unknown atmosphere going into each match.
#1) Estadio Azteca; Mexico City, Mexico
Coming in at #1 is Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico.
As if this was ever really in doubt…Estadio Azteca has earned the number one spot in this countdown. The Azteca holds 100,000 fans and its architecture is built in a way in which it funnels noise onto the field. The high altitude, poor air quality, and passion amongst the Mexican supporters makes this stadium one of the toughest places to play on earth.
The Mexican National Team is historically the best team in Concacaf. In front of their home supporters at Azteca they are nearly impossible to defeat. The United States Men’s National Team has always had a hard time dealing with matches away at Estadio Azteca. Below are some direct quotes from former USMNT legends:
“I knew it was serious when we had oxygen tanks at everyone’s locker before the game. I was like, 'This is pretty intense.' I didn’t really think elevation could affect you that much, and after the match I thought, ‘I was completely wrong.”
- Charlie Davies; Former USMNT Player
“I’ll never forget the image of Cobi Jones when we came in at halftime. And Cobi was a guy who had some breathing problems. He had an inhaler with him so he was always on that regardless of where we were playing, and I’ll never forget sitting down next to him and seeing him summon from the depths of hell in his bowels, or wherever in his stomach, this disgusting globule of phlegm and he just hawked this thing up which was just disgusting black. It was as if he had been in a coal mine for 40 years.”
- Alex Lalas; Former USMNT Defender
In closing Estadio Azteca is the toughest place to play in Concacaf. If you disagree…well then leave a comment below.
Thank you so much for tuning into State Of Soccer Weekly.
I will see you all next week…and until next time…
GO USMNT!!