Mexico City embraces World Cup spirit as El Tri captures hearts

Mexico City embraced World Cup fever as El Tri captured imaginations like never before. On Thursday, July 2, 2026, amidst soaring expectations, the streets and bars in Mexico City were alive with excitement in anticipation of the national team's upcoming matches.

Shirt sellers filled the streets around Zócalo, the vast main square, where jerseys outsold every other at the tournament even before El Tri potentially secured a significant last-16 tie against England. Three weeks after hosting the opening game, Mexico positioned itself as the tournament’s heart, with excitement palpably building. Francisco, walking along Avenida 5 de Mayo, expressed confidence, stating, "We feel we are going to win. It's going to be difficult, but we are all very motivated." His statement referred to Mexico's victory over Ecuador, which marked the team’s first knockout victory since 1986.

Despite inclement weather that delayed kick-off by an hour, about 1.4 million people are estimated to have watched the match on outdoor screens, a significant increase from the 400,000 viewers for Mexico’s first match, a win over South Africa. Tragically, the celebration was marred by incidents that led to four deaths in a crowd crush. Thomas Tuchel indicated that the altitude of Mexico City posed a disadvantage for England.

The atmosphere in Mexico City suggested an even bigger celebration was on the horizon. Principia from Quintana Roo witnessed the excitement firsthand, noting the exhilaration of celebrating victories on home ground. She described a festival-like atmosphere that brought families together.

As the match against England approached, local commentators fueled the excitement, welcoming English players in anticipation of the intense atmosphere at Estadio Azteca, which is regarded as a powerful 12th man for the Mexican team. Charles and Angie, walking through Zócalo, highlighted the stadium's magical qualities, stating, "The Azteca has something magical. It brings us a lot of luck."

As the passion for El Tri spread through neighborhoods, even the coffee-drinking literati in La Roma joined the excitement. Pablo reminisced about the celebrations that erupted after the match against Ecuador, noting how people’s belief in the team grew with each victory. The phrase ¿Y Si Sí? – “ What if they can?” gained traction, embodying fans' hopes for the team's performance against England.

Principia shared a personal story of loss that brought family together during this World Cup experience, while even those indifferent to football, like taxi driver Marco, acknowledged the allure of the upcoming game at Azteca. The city, immersed in sporting enthusiasm, brimmed with anticipation and anxiety as Mexico prepared to face England, with many expressing faith in their team.