Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid claims his team are more than capable of getting a result when they take on Mexican side Tigres on Wednesday.
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The MLS club head into their CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final knowing they face a stern test in their Mexican opponents, but will take confidence from improved performances against Central American sides in recent years.
Speaking ahead of the game, Schmid said: "I think we've shown we can play those teams tough.
"The maturity of the team is stronger over the years for having gone through these types of games and having played games in Mexico.
"In general right now, Mexico is the top league in our confederation.
"But the U.S. is the next-best league. I think the gap is closing. If you go back maybe three years, even at this stage of the competition (Mexican teams) would not put out a first-choice lineup.
"(Now) they know that if they don't play their top teams they're not going to come away with a result and even if they play their top team, it's going to be a battle."
MLS commissioner Don Garber also expressed similar sentiments, admitting that success in the continental tournament could do wonders for the burgeoning North American league.
"It's very important," Garber said.
"We've got to do better in the Champions League. The opportunity for an MLS team to win the Champions League in this region and go to a World Club Championship and compete against some of the best clubs in the world is an important goal.
It's something that we are pushing our clubs to be mindful of, and hope that they would take that tournament far more seriously than some clubs have taken it in the past.," he added.
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