COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The United States team is content to see the temperatures in Columbus, Ohio, beginning to drop ahead of a critical CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Friday.
In fact, that's just how the U.S. like it in a city that has seen them defeat El Tri 2-0 in the previous four qualifiers.
"It should always be here. This is where it belongs. This is U.S.-Mexico, you know," said U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard ahead of training on Wednesday.
"We've finally got that kind of in our pocket -- a place where we feel comfortable and we feel at home, temperatures [are] dropping, [which is] good for us and I'm sure they won't like that ... We love coming to Columbus and another game, knowing our history here, gives us certainly a psychological boost," he added.
But while Howard -- who U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann has confirmed will start on Friday -- clearly believes the MAPFRE Stadium gives his side the edge, the historical 2-0 scoreline U.S. fans rally behind isn't important to him.
"It means nothing," said the Colorado Rapids player. "If we win 1-0 we'll be just as excited. But it's just, there's something about it. It seems to keep creeping up."
U.S. captain Michael Bradley called the hexagonal World Cup qualifying game against Mexico "the biggest" and "most special" that the national team plays, adding that it is always an "American crowd" in Columbus.
"Playing here in Columbus there is an aura, a mystique. You have a group of guys who grew up with this game," stated Bradley, also ahead of Wednesday's training. "It's a crowd that gives us the home field advantage and gives us the feeling from minute one that we have a real advantage."
For Newcastle United full-back DeAndre Yedlin, the 2-0 victory U.S. fans crave won't come through simply being in Columbus and turning up, but through preparing thoroughly against a Mexico side intent on changing its negative run.
"I think it's obviously something that has almost kind of become a tradition here," said Yedlin. "But, you know, it's not something that just gets gifted to you. It's a result that every team that's played Mexico, especially here, has had to work for."