BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — As Mexico and South Korea faced off on the field, fans in Bakersfield showed that some World Cup matchups can be about more than a final score.
FILE – FIFA World Cup 2026 Soccer
A Mexico-South Korea watch party Thursday at Bakersfield Beer Company turned into a celebration of culture, community, and relationships, with fans emphasizing the connection between the two countries as much as the rivalry.
Cristian Gutierrez summed up the mood, saying, “No bad blood between us.”
Francisco Rodriguez said the competition didn’t erase the camaraderie. “Right now, we’re gonna be rivals, but at the end, we’re still gonna be, you know, friends,” he said.
That sense of mutual respect has roots in the 2018 World Cup, when South Korea’s win over Germany helped Mexico advance. On Thursday, fans packed the watch party to cheer on their teams, with Rodriguez leading chants of “Viva Mexico!”
Danvir Singh said soccer’s global reach was on full display at the gathering. “Soccer is truly the world’s game. More than any other sport, it brings communities, it brings cultures, it brings different nationalities together in a way that no other sport in America really does,” Singh said.
Two couples at the watch party said the sport plays a big role in their relationships. Singh said he found himself supporting both sides. “I love South Korea. I love Mexican culture. Obviously, I’m married into the Mexican culture, so I’m rooting for both teams,” he said.
Another couple cheered for the opposite teams. Noemi Bealer said, “I’m a new soccer fan.” Neil Bankar explained how the sport brought them together: “Funny story. Uh, we met here at the soccer bar. It wasn’t our first soccer game, but I dragged her into plenty of games since.”
Rodrigues said the watch party was ultimately about being together. “It means a lot, because, um, I mean, in the end, it’s, you know, it’s always the family, so, um, just being together, enjoying the moment, and it just means it means the world,” he said.
Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel, middle, reaches to stop the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico beat South Korea 1-0 to become the first country to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup.
World Cup action continues tomorrow with the United States taking on Australia at noon. The match will air on FOX 58.