Few USMNT/CONCACAF related notes:
-Wind chill index that could be approaching what USSF health guidelines call "high risk for cold-related illnesses". Forecast for World Cup Qualifier in Columbus next Thursday calls for temps 24-26 with west winds at 4-14 MPH and a 40% chance of snow showers. Forecast for the qualifier in Canada is temps from 22-24 with winds at 5-10 MPH with a 10% chance of snow flurries. Forecast for the February 2nd qualifier in St. Paul, MN, is temps from 18-20, winds 7-14 PMH and 30% chance of snow flurries. Both the fields in Columbus and St. Paul are heated.
-CONCACAF will institute VAR for the final two rounds of World Cup Qualifiers. It also will be added for this year's CONCACAF women's championship, CONCACAF's men's and women's U-20 championships and this year's CONCACAF Champions League.
-Exploria Stadium in Orlando will host the final USMNT home World Cup Qualifier on March 27th, when the Americans face Panama. That match is sandwiched between away matches to Mexico and Costa Rica.
-Mexican Football Federation announced earlier this week that any fans found to be using the anti-gay chant, which has caused El Tri to play home qualifier matches in empty stadiums, will now be banned from stadiums for five years. The new measures will be tested in Mexico's next two World Cup qualifiers, at home against Costa Rica on Jan. 30 and Panama on Feb. 2. While both matches were initially set to be played behind closed doors due to previous instances of the anti-gay chant, Mexico will be allowed to reopen the Estadio Azteca, but capacity will be limited to 2,000 for the upcoming matches in order to test the new measures.