Mexico and Portugal fans wear lucha libre masks ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Portugal and Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium.
Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Early in the second half of Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup clash between Côte d’Ivoire and Norway, a deflected ball from play made its way into the stands at Dallas Stadium (most commonly known as AT&T Stadium), home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.
The stadium was filled with thousands of Ivorians and Norwegians who traveled to Dallas to support their national teams, but when the ball landed in the crowd, a man wearing a Mexico jersey with a Norwegian Viking helmet caught it. With the ball in tow, he posed with it and showed off his short-term souvenir to fans of both nations, as smiles spread through the section.
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No one wondered why this man was there. In fact, they treated him like they’d known him for decades because of the love for soccer.
It’s the type of sight that has become normalized across much of the World Cup in America, but thousands of soccer-loving Mexicans—wearing sombreros, national team jerseys and Mexican flags—have poured into the stadiums, including in Houston and Dallas, all in the name of loving the world’s game.
Monday’s contest between Brazil and Japan brought throngs of fans from both countries to Houston for their Round of 32 contest in the FIFA World Cup. However during the pregame festivities inside Houston Stadium (a.k.a. Reliant Stadium), the soundtrack was not Samba or J-Pop, but rather Mariachi Imperial de América, the Houston Texans’ longtime mariachi band.
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🎺
Suena ‘México lindo y querido’ al ritmo de mariachi en el Houston Stadium, a menos de dos horas para el arranque del Brasil vs. Japón por 16vos de final del Mundial 2026🇺🇸🇨🇦🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/uXMQAocMZa
— Luis Omar Tapia (@LuisOmarTapia) June 29, 2026
“Let’s go Japan, we are with you,” Julio Hernández said in reference to the Brazilian team on the pitch. “Take out those arrogant lunatics.”
The Mexican fans in attendance were divided into three distinct groups. One small group firmly supported Japan, hoping to disrupt Brazil’s championship glory. Another small group admired and supported Brazil in their quest against Japan. The largest contingent of fans was there simply to enjoy a big soccer party, proudly wearing green, white and red—the colors of “El Tri,” the nickname of the Mexican National Team.
“Regardless of what team is here in Houston, we will be here,” said Bryan Castellanos, a second-generation Mexican-American from Sharpstown. Castellanos was with his uncle and two cousins, all wearing Mexican jerseys of star players Javier “Chicarito” Hernández, Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez. “This is our third game so far.”
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A fan holds up a Mexico scarf ahead of the FIFA World Cup match between Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium.
Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Regardless of team-specific interest, it was clear that the love of the game was paramount to the Mexican contingent at the games. When Japan’s Kaishū Sano scored the opening goal on a counterattack against Brazil, Mexican fans joined in with the Japanese delegation’s hugs and cheers.
When Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli scored the game-winner in the 95th minute, many of those same Mexicans were now celebrating the victory with the Brazilian delegation.
And when the Netherlands fan base conducted their iconic Dutch Orange Bus walk on the way to Houston Stadium, the Mexican fan base was there celebrating with the Dutch.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina secured their place in the knockout round after winning their final group-stage match against Qatar 3-1. Following the victory, many Bosnians celebrated outside Lumen Field in Seattle. Interestingly, a group of Mexicans joined them in the festivities.
mexicans are the best people on earth. the bosnians were celebrating their win and the mexicans came in and all starting dancing together, just incredible 🇧🇦🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/BVGR6x77b9
— nazzo (@nazzobetweeting) June 24, 2026
“That is the spirit of football. Uniting people, not dividing them,” commented Dr. Khadra Hussien, an educator and equal education rights advocate. “You support a team not because they represent your country, but because they play well.”
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The spillover effect goes beyond watching the game in the stadium.
FIFA’s Fan Festival in EaDO—with live match viewing parties, themed cultural programming and local vendors—has routinely reached capacity, including Tuesday’s match between Mexico and Ecuador, in which “El Tri” secured a 2-0 win to earn a place in the Round of 16.
Over at Shell Energy Stadium, the home of the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash, more than 20,000 fans showed up for a Mexico-Ecuador live viewing party, filling the entire venue. Bars hosting World Cup watch parties have been packed throughout Houston, with Mexican fans making up the majority in most cases.
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More than 20,000 fans filled Shell Energy Stadium for the live viewing of Mexico versus Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Houston Dynamo
On July 4, Houston’s last FIFA World Cup game will take place as Morocco and Canada square off for a spot in the quarterfinals. On the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, one can imagine plenty of American regalia and pride will be on full display for the game—fireworks, American flags and other traditional expressions that could only represent the United States.
On the world’s stage, as Texas has the second-largest Mexican-origin population in the U.S. with nearly 8 million residents—many fans in the stands will likely be wearing sombreros, national team jerseys and carrying Mexican flags. Celebrating the beautiful game once again.
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“We worked that overtime for a reason; we’ll be there,” Castellanos said in a follow-up text message on Wednesday. “And if Mexico plays in the United States, we’ll figure out how to get to that game too.”