After coaching 10 teams in five countries over the last 15 years, Juan Carlos Osorio was pretty confident there was nothing about soccer that could surprise him.
Copa America Centenario: Mexico vs. Jamaica match details
Then he strode into Atlanta’s Georgia Dome two weeks ago ahead of an inconsequential exhibition match, his first U.S. game as coach of the Mexican national team, and saw a crowd of 63,000. Four days later more than 68,000 showed up for a friendly in San Diego. And four days after that, in its Copa America Centenario opener, Mexico drew 60,000-plus in Glendale, Ariz.
Three games in three states played before more than 190,000 people — and two of those games didn’t even count. Mexico is expected to draw another 80,000 to the Rose Bowl on Thursday when it meets Jamaica in its second group-play game of the Centenario (FS1, Univision, UDN, 7 p.m.).
It’s a level of support the Colombian-born Osorio willingly concedes was a surprise.
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