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Mexico and Portugal fans wear\u00a0lucha libre masks ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Portugal and Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Early in the second half of Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup<\/a> clash between C\u00f4te d’Ivoire and Norway<\/a>, a deflected ball from play made its way into the stands at Dallas Stadium (most commonly known as AT&T Stadium),\u00a0home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s the type of sight that has become normalized across much of the World Cup in America, but thousands of soccer-loving Mexicans<\/a>\u2014wearing sombreros, national team jerseys and Mexican flags\u2014have poured into the stadiums, including in Houston and Dallas, all in the name of loving the world’s game.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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)<\/a>, the soundtrack was not Samba or J-Pop, but rather\u00a0Mariachi Imperial de Am\u00e9rica, the Houston Texans’ longtime mariachi band.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfba <\/p>\n Suena \u2018M\u00e9xico lindo y querido\u2019 al ritmo de mariachi en el Houston Stadium, a menos de dos horas para el arranque del Brasil vs. Jap\u00f3n por 16vos de final del Mundial 2026\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfd pic.twitter.com\/uXMQAocMZa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Luis Omar Tapia (@LuisOmarTapia) June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “Let’s go Japan, we are with you,” Julio\u00a0Hern\u00e1ndez said\u00a0in reference to the Brazilian team on the pitch. “Take out those arrogant lunatics.”<\/p>\n 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\u2014the colors of “El Tri,” the nickname of the Mexican National Team.\u00a0<\/p>\n “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” Hern\u00e1ndez, Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez\u00a0and Edson \u00c1lvarez. “This is our third game so far.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A fan holds up a Mexico scarf ahead of the\u00a0FIFA World Cup\u00a0match between Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n 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\u00a0Kaish\u016b Sano scored the opening goal on a counterattack against Brazil, Mexican fans joined in with the Japanese delegation’s hugs and cheers.<\/p>\n When Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli scored the game-winner\u00a0in the 95th minute, many of those same Mexicans were now celebrating the victory with the Brazilian delegation.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfd pic.twitter.com\/BVGR6x77b9<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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