U.S. players avoid politics in qualifier trip to Mexico

Getting three points, not heightened political tension between the United States and Mexico, is the focus of American players going into Sunday night’s World Cup qualifier at Azteca Stadium.

“When these guys are bearing down on you, Donald Trump is the last thing

on your mind,” U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said Saturday at the cavernous stadium.

Mexico upset the U.S., 2-1, at Columbus on the opening day of the final round of qualifying in November and is in position to sweep the Americans in a qualifying cycle for the first time since 1972. El Tri leads the North and Central American and Caribbean region with four wins and a draw at the halfway point and with a victory could pretty much make certain a seventh straight World Cup berth.

“I think we have the greatest respect for Mexico, its people, its football team,” U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. “I live in Los Angeles. I experience on a daily basis people of Mexican heritage. They’re wonderful people. They contribute greatly to our society in many ways. We think the world of them. I’m ashamed that there’s perhaps some discord on the political side, but believe me, I think most Americans appreciate the Mexicans that have come to America to make a better future for themselves and their families and the way they have contributed.”

Mexico leads the hexagonal with 13 points, followed by Costa Rica (eight), the U.S. (seven), Panama (six), Honduras (four) and Trinidad and Tobago three. The top three advance to next year’s World Cup in Russia, and the fourth-place team faces Asia’s No. 5 nation in a playoff.

El Tri has outscored opponents, 10-0, in the current World Cup cycle and has lost only two qualifiers at Azteca, to Costa Rica in 2001 and Honduras in 2013.

Still, opponents have managed draws.