Ahead of Friday’s World Cup Qualifying match between the United States and Mexico at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, ussoccer.com took a look back at Steve Ralston’s assist in the United States’ 2-0 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier win against Mexico. To read the full article about Ralston’s “Mexico Moment,” click the button on the bottom of the page.
As he prepared to start in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s decisive World Cup Qualifying match on Sept. 3, 2005, veteran midfielder Steve Ralston approached the game like he would any other.
With a chance to clinch a berth at the 2006 FIFA World Cup against rivals Mexico, the size of the occasion only hit the 31-year-old as the team bus turned the final corner into Columbus Crew Stadium.
“Wow, this is big,” Ralston recalled saying to himself as the bus rode through a large sea of red, white and blue into the stadium. “There were so many people there so early. Hours before the game, people on both sides were out in numbers. To see the American support was tremendous. It always felt good, but more so for this game.”
