It exists on what can seem like a mythical plane, with an aberrational combination of history, decibels and lack of oxygen leaving the Estadio Azteca peerless in North America. As just one of two stadiums to host the World Cup final twice, along with Rio's fabled Maracana, few soccer venues can even remotely compare to Mexico's home ground.
Stories passed down through generations of the United States men's national team only enhance that perception, and their performances at the Azteca certainly don't dispel it. In eight World Cup qualifying matches spanning five decades, the U.