Mexico City, Mexico (My Sportsbook) - U.S. coach Bob Bradley is well aware of the team's history in Mexico - winless in 23 all-time games - but said Monday in advance of Wednesday's 2010 World Cup qualifier that "we're ready for it."

Bradley has reassembled his runner-up team from June's FIFA Confederations Cup and the U.S., which is ranked 12th in the world, has its best shot to end the winless skid - which includes 22 losses and a draw.

"It's a complement to the growth of our team and the things that have happened over the years in U.S. soccer to think that this is our best chance," he said, "and hopefully we can take advantage of it."

The U.S., which is second in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, hopes two days of training will be enough to prepare for the more than 100,000 fans, and the altitude of well over a mile at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

"Azteca is a stadium that we all know about and we all are excited about the challenge," said Bradley, who added the team didn't train in altitude ahead of the match because it didn't have enough time.

Although Bradley has only had his team together since Monday, he acknowledged that the club is used to short preparation times, and just tries to take steps forward every time they are able to train.

"You rely on the work that you've done in the past. You rely on the experience of the group, you have a strong routine in terms of how you do things," said Bradley. "You come back together, and you pick up on those things."

Although the U.S. lost to Mexico 5-0 in the Gold Cup final last month, it was a result Howard dismissed.

"There's disappointment there, but we're not in a position to really look back much in all honesty, so the game will be assessed and compared," Howard said, "but the 90 minutes we have to play on Wednesday is really our total focus and is, at this point, most important."

Howard, the top U.S. goalie, wasn't a part of the U.S. team for the Gold Cup, either. Neither were most of the other U.S. players likely to start Wednesday, when the teams kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

One of the keys for the Americans is defense, something Bradley tinkered with in the Confederations Cup - and may have just discovered next year's World Cup starters.

Oguchi Onyewu, who recently joined AC Milan, was in his usual place as central defender, but usual central defender and captain Carlos Bocanegra moved to the left back spot, Jay DeMerit slotted into central defense, and Jonathan Spector took over at right back.

That group helped the U.S. stun then-No. 1 ranked Spain in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, and played well in a 3-2 loss to new No. 1 Brazil in the final.

"I feel very good about the way that group performed," Bradley said.

The U.S. is second in CONCACAF qualifying - the top three teams automatically advance to the World Cup, and Mexico is fourth. Costa Rica leads the group and Honduras is in third.

While the U.S. needs a result to solidify its spot in the top three, Mexico is in need of a win to avoid falling further behind the top three clubs. Although Mexico could still advance to the Cup if it finishes fourth, it would need to win a two-game playoff against the fifth-place team from South America.

Although the U.S. might enjoy playing its part in keeping Mexico out of next year's World Cup - the Americans won the first meeting earlier this year 2-0 - that is not what the team is focusing on, Howard said.

"I keep saying it because it's true; who gets to the World Cup in CONCACAF isn't any of our concern as long as we're one of the teams," Howard said. "That's the most important thing to us."