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<\/p>\nAt the end of a narrow hallway inside Xtreme Tacos, a back room opens up, cluttered with soccer memorabilia. The restaurant\u2019s co-owner, Uziel Ramirez, wedges in another chair as a group of regulars and friends grows to watch the World Cup opener.<\/p>\n
The Mexican restaurant fills with jerseys as fans take advantage of a day off or bring their work with them to watch the late Thursday afternoon match. In sync with the supporters packed into the historic Estadio Azteca, the Tampa crowd roars as Mexico secures a 2-0 win over South Africa.<\/p>\n
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Norma Dutoit, 55, a third-generation American, was lucky enough to have the day free to witness her ancestral team\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a soccer fan,\u201d Dutoit said, \u201cbut a World Cup fan.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Tampa resident\u2019s anticipation for the tournament was enough to convince her eclectic group of five to tag along, with a range of allegiances, including Brazil<\/a>, Puerto Rico and the United States. They arrived at the restaurant an hour early to watch the grand-opening ceremony with Dutoit.<\/p>\n \u201cUnited Nations coming through,\u201d Dutoit joked, referring to her posse.<\/p>\n If the scene reflected anything, it was that the World Cup is as much about blurring borders as it is soccer.<\/p>\n Fans root for their countries, like Brazilian Rozana De Carvalho. Others on behalf of their loved ones. Dutoit\u2019s order is as follows: Mexico, then France<\/a> (her husband\u2019s from there) and then Brazil, because of De Carvalho.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Denzle Latty, 29, chose Japan<\/a> as his team because of its culture. Others follow their favorite players to a team: Marvin Morgan<\/a>, 30, still roots for England<\/a> due to Wayne Rooney, who made the last of his World Cup appearances in 2014. Orlando Torres, 38, claims Portugal<\/a> will take the tournament.<\/p>\n \u201c(Portugal\u2019s Cristiano<\/a>) Ronaldo is way better than (Argentina<\/a>\u2019s Lionel) Messi<\/a>,\u201d Latty said. \u201cYou can quote me on that.\u201d<\/p>\n As Mexico\u2019s national anthem played through the TV\u2019s speakers on Peacock\u2019s Spanish broadcast, Dutoit mouthed the lyrics under her breath. In front of her sat a freshly concocted Mexican Chelada, a blend of homemade chamoy, Tajin, fresh lime juice, a pinch of salt and Modelo Especial.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n An early goal by El Tri\u2019s Juli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones in the ninth minute queued a ruckus. Ramirez, wearing a Mexican jersey, jumped from his seat as Dutoit let out a piercing whistle.<\/p>\n As the cheers mellowed, Ramirez, 37, of Tampa returned to rearranging the seats like a Tetris puzzle. He walked over to his nephews, seated at Dutoit\u2019s table, and booted them to a newly added corner seat. Two lucky customers took over the table seats for their food, while Ramirez and his brother, Guillermo Ramirez<\/a>, 32, ate with their dishes balanced in their laps.<\/p>\n Dutoit invited Samantha Pena, from Ybor City, to slide into the booth beside her so she, too, would have a place to eat. Pena was a first-timer at Xtreme Tacos. Dutoit asked if she was there for the game, too.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI needed somewhere where Mexicans are,\u201d Pena said.<\/p>\n Close quarters with strangers weren\u2019t a problem for the watch partygoers. For most in the room, allegiance to a team came second to allegiance to Xtreme Tacos \u2014 and to co-owner Ramirez.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all because of Uzi,\u201d his brother said.<\/p>\n Latty, Morgan and Torres are teammates of Ramirez from pickup games they call \u201cSunday Soccer.\u201d Dutoit has known the co-owner since before Xtreme Tacos opened. The opening match became a good excuse to return to their friend\u2019s restaurant.<\/p>\n Above the bar, the game\u2019s chaos mirrored the disordered chairs beneath it. Two red cards had already gone to South Africa, and Mexico\u2019s string of near-misses kept the Floridians on edge. It wasn\u2019t until the 67th minute that Raul Jimenez\u2019s header allowed the room to exhale.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n But with time left, the game\u2019s referees were not finished. They handed another red card to Mexico\u2019s C\u00e9sar Montes<\/a> \u2014 bringing the total to three, the most in an opening World Cup match. At the bar, the group of pick-up players winced at Montes\u2019 risky choice<\/p>\n \u201cWhy even put yourself in that position?\u201d Torres said. \u201cIt\u2019s a game that\u2019s already over.\u201d<\/p>\n As the final two minutes of stoppage time ticked off, Dutoit\u2019s hands stayed clasped near her face until the final whistle released the room.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/fb3a08e36c8d852b276152e9d1762d2a.jpeg\"\/)
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