10.10.2015 02:51 h

Klinsmann confident of US support for Mexico clash

Jurgen Klinsmann believes the United States will have the benefit of a sizeable home support for his team's showdown with Mexico, four years after a Gold Cup clash at the same venue turned into a virtual away game.

Klinsmann said the strides made by American soccer in the past four years would mean there was no repeat of the 2011 Gold Cup final, when Mexican fans vastly outnumbered US supporters at the iconic 93,000 Pasadena Rose Bowl.

"It's going to be interesting to see how many fans will cheer for the US and how big will be the presence for the Mexican fans," Klinsmann admitted.

"But I think definitely you'll see a shift. You can't compare it to the Gold Cup four years ago when the Mexican fans outnumbered the Americans by I think 90 to 10.

"I think we will have a huge, huge support tomorrow night."

Klinsmann said he hoped the success of the USA team in recent years may even persuade US-born fans of Mexican descent to switch allegiances.

"Hopefully they'll be a few fans who come to the game in the green shirts of Mexico and maybe by the end they'll be cheering for the red white and blue," he joked.

"It depends on how the game goes. You have to win your fans over. You have to play well and excite them. Once you get that feeling across to the crowd, special things can happen and vice versa.

"But there are fans coming from all over the country. The support we had in Brazil at the World Cup last year was incredible. The team can't wait to get out on the field."

The winner of Saturday's clash will qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.