MONTERREY, MEXICO (AP) — For those watching. world cup If you were watching TV, you might have noticed a crowd of fans wearing Mexican jerseys. Monterreynevertheless El Tri I don’t play in the city.
Monterrey, located in the state of Nuevo Leon, is the only Mexican host city not to host games for the Mexican national team, but that hasn’t stopped legions of fans from donning dark green and enjoying the World Cup spectacle locally.
“This is a good deal for the country and the city,” said Monterrey resident Manuel Perez, who attended Monday’s Round of 32 match between the Netherlands and Morocco. “We are all in this special moment together.”
No matter who is playing at Estadio BBVA, Mexican fans control the atmosphere through various chants.
“This is part of the culture and we support every team that comes here,” said fan Sebastian Roa, who traveled from Guadalajara.
During the match between the Netherlands and Morocco, Mexican fans could be heard shouting “No Era Penalty” (it wasn’t a penalty) and “Mexico” throughout the stadium.
The term “no error penalty” was coined during the round of 16 match between Mexico and the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup.
In that match, the Netherlands won a penalty in stoppage time after the referee ruled that Dutch winger Arjen Robben had been clipped by Mexico’s Rafael Marquez. The penalty was converted by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Mexico were eliminated. However, many Mexican fans are convinced that Robben dived and the penalty should not have been awarded.
Within 10 minutes of the game on Monday, which also marked the anniversary of that game, Mexican fans reminded the world of their 12-year grudge against Oranje.
Morocco coach impressed by Monterrey fans
While local fans in the United States and Canada also watch games from other countries, Mexican fans are in complete control of showcasing their country.
Their dedication to the sport attracts the attention of visiting teams.
“I’ve always said that 1986 (Mexico World Cup) made me fall in love with this sport,” Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouabi said. “Hopefully, next time the World Cup is held in Morocco, I would like to say that (Moroccans) want to welcome Mexican fans and make them feel at home.”
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
In addition to the Round of 32, Monterrey hosted five other teams in three group stage matches: Sweden, Tunisia, Japan, South Korea and South Africa.
Even though some had more fans than others, like Japan and South Korea, there wasn’t a game without Mexican green in the crowd.
“We love watching every game,” Lore said. “Even if it’s (other teams) like Cape Verde or Uzbekistan, they’ll see us.”
In Guadalajara, South Korea, first day victory The headliner for the match against the Czech Republic is vacant seatFIFA blamed the loss on several fans who were watching the game from the stadium’s concourse. However, Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA was sold out with 51,243 fans attending three of the four matches.
“I didn’t go to the game (in Guadalajara) because the prices were extremely high,” Roa said. “But I managed to get a ticket here.
Mexico became the first country to host the World Cup three times: in 1970, 1986 and 2026. But for many locals, it will be their first time watching the tournament in person.
“It’s a special moment to come to the World Cup and enjoy the match,” said Alejandro Cuellar, who attended the match between Sweden and Tunisia with his brother. “I don’t know when I’ll be here again.”
Monterrey’s international soccer aspirations extend beyond the World Cup.
state-of-the-art stadium
Monterrey also attracts high attendance numbers for other international matches. Estadio BBVA hosted over 49,000 spectators for the inter-federation play-off between Iraq and Bolivia.
Built in 2015, Estadio BBVA is considered one of the most modern in Mexico. Those sitting on the northwest side of the stadium have a perfect view of the nearby mountain called “El Cerro de la Silla”, which is one of the biggest attractions for foreigners visiting the stadium.
“We already know the type of stadium we have,” Perez said. “It’s great to see that so many people around the world are (beginning to discover) this big stadium.”
Estadio BBVA is Rayados’ home ground and regularly hosts Liga MX matches. However, the atmosphere at the World Cup is completely different.
“It’s a whole new level because we have international people here,” Lore said. “For all of us Mexicans, this is pretty exciting because we like soccer and we love to party, so anything that combines those two things is what we love.” __
Maya Calder Ramirez and Ethan Wilcox are students at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
___
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
