COLUMBUS, Ohio -- United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann expects that President-elect Donald Trump's past statements about Mexican immigration will not affect the atmosphere surrounding Friday's World Cup qualifier between the U.S. and its southern neighbor.
"Football worldwide is a sport that connects people together, and you have always this healthy competition," Klinsmann said Thursday.
"It's a big rivalry. It's a big clash like you have in Europe with Germany-Holland or France against Spain. You have Brazil against Argentina.
"Over here now, they notice now in Europe and in South America that there is a very, very special rivalry that has developed in North America. It's purely a sporting event."
Klinsmann added that Friday's contest will be "purely a game of respect."
"We have a lot of respect for Mexico, their people and the team, their coach," Klinsmann said. "So I think this is the wonderful side of sport, that brings people together."
Klinsmann was speaking a day after U.S. captain Michael Bradley weighed in on Tuesday's surprising election results, in which Trump, the Republican nominee, upset Democrat Hillary Clinton.
"Given the way everything has gone on the last few months, there is an added layer to this game," Bradley said.
"But my general feeling is that we as Americans trust our system. We respect our democracy and, regardless of your beliefs, regardless of how you voted, we have an obligation to come together, get behind our new president and to have faith and trust that he will do what's best for the entire country."