/*Rose Bowl*/ preparations were well under way Friday, with tents and stages ready for the hundreds of thousands of soccer fans who will descend on the Rose Bowl Saturday afternoon.
The Gold Cup determines the North American Conference Championship. It's like a regional version of the FIFA World Cup. And it's a classic rivalry with the United States and Mexico facing off in a sellout match.
For soccer diehards, the match is a prelude to a showdown that's been months in the making.
And while Team USA is considered the home team, the crowd at Saturday's game is expected to be overwhelmingly pro-Mexico.
As many as 90,000 soccer fans are expected to be at the Rose Bowl Saturday. The city of Pasadena has already started setting up barricades and posting parking restrictions.
Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez says people who don't have tickets should stay home and watch the game on TV.
Soccer fans say emotions will run high, but ultimately, there is mutual admiration for both teams.
Saturday's game starts at 6 p.m., but parking lots will open at noon. A fan festival will start at 2 p.m., and stadium gates open at 4.
