Where does the United States-Brazil match rank among the biggest international matches to take place in Chicago the last five years? Here is Luis Arroyave’s list with attendance in parenthesis:
10. AC Milan 3, Fire 1
July 27, 2005 (21,954) The game may not have been close, but Fire fans had to be smiling after the spin move goal of rookie Chris Rolfe.
9. Mexico 2, Paraguay 1
March 29, 2006 (46,510)
Fans came out to get a last look in person at El Tricolor before Oswaldo Sanchez and Company headed to Germany for the World Cup.
8. England 2, United States 1
May 28, 2005 (47,637)
England was without most of its top stars but still enjoyed home field advantage in front of the pro-England crowd. Clint Dempsey scored his first U.S. goal during the match.
7. MLS All-Stars 1, Chelsea 0
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August 5, 2006 (21,210)
Less than two months after opening, Toyota Park hosted the back-to-back Premier League champions and the Chelsea debuts of Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko.
6. United States 2, Canada 1
Mexico 1, Guadeloupe 0
June 22, 2007 (50,790)
The Gold Cup tournament came to Chicago for the first time with this semifinals doubleheader.
5. Bayern Munich 0, Manchester United 0, (Munich wins 4-2 PKS)
July 25, 2004 (58,121)
People are still cursing United for this one. Not only was Roy Keane the only Man U star who played, but the match was so boring that some fans booed the teams.
4. Mexico 1, Poland 1
April 27, 2005 (54,427)
The Polish and Mexican flags were everywhere in the Soldier Field stands as Chicago’s two biggest ethnic groups came out to support their respective national teams.
3. United States-Brazil
Sept. 9, 2007 (About 40,000 expected)
It’s Brazil — FIFA’s No. 1-ranked team. It’s Ronaldinho and Kaka — two of the world’s five best players. It’s a shame it won’t be sold out.
2. Real Madrid 3, Chivas 1
June 16, 2005 (54,432)
Real Madrid’s star power (Beckham, Zidane, Raul, Owen) created a buzz around town and die-hard Chivas fans brought something extra to the game’s atmosphere.
1. United States 2, Mexico 1
June 24, 2007 (60,000)
No game was as important and as exciting as this Gold Cup final. The crowd was electric, and Benny Feilhaber’s volley from 22 yards out was the icing on the cake.