On Monday, music pulsated from some of the bars on Calle Genova, a narrow thoroughfare nestled in the heart of Mexico City. This particular street is known for rarely living in silence, and despite the early hour, a healthy crowd of patrons were already spilling out onto the street. They were observed picking up the revelry where they had left off. The clock was yet to strike 11am, but national team shirts were on full display among the jubilant crowd. Had anyone lived under a news blackout for the previous 15 hours, they may well have drawn a wildly different conclusion about the true events of the night before.
Contrasting Scenes After World Cup Defeat
The reality of those recent events became clearer to anyone who made a direct route for Paseo de la Reforma after departing Estadio Azteca. This vast boulevard had previously been a site of immense national celebration. It had been teeming with people long after Mexico’s last-16 victory over Ecuador. That earlier triumph had represented an affirmative national moment for the country, bringing an estimated 1.4 million people onto the streets in celebration.
However, the scene was markedly different just three and a half hours after England had shattered the dreams of El Tri. Paseo de la Reforma was virtually empty. The clean-up operation from the evening’s mass screening was already in full swing, leaving remaining revellers from the night largely confined to the sidestreets.
Nonetheless, despite the national team’s exit from the World Cup, Mexico’s pain was distinctly mixed with smiles. Away from the quiet major arteries, the revelry did continue, albeit more modestly. Reflections across the city were largely upbeat. There was universal acknowledgment that Mexico had wrung everything they possibly could from their encounter. This match was widely described as a genuine World Cup classic against England.
A bittersweet sense also lingered among supporters. Many felt the team had played well enough to earn a different outcome in the last-16 tie. Some believed they might have advanced if England’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, had not been in sensational form throughout the match.
‘Epic Performance’ Despite Setback
El Universal, one of Mexico’s biggest newspapers, articulated a prevailing national sentiment. The publication wrote of “A setback that will hurt for eternity” following the defeat. Despite this profound disappointment, the newspaper also paid tribute to “an epic performance against England,” recognising the team’s valiant effort on the pitch.
A feeling also lingered that Mexico had, in some ways, been architects of their own heroic downfall. This perspective was particularly attributed to instances of weak defending. These defensive frailties allowed Anthony Gordon to win the crucial penalty that effectively put the tie beyond El Tri’s reach.
Mexico’s Warm Welcome for Fans
Following the match, the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, actively sought to maintain a positive afterglow. She used social media to share a message. Her post stated, “We showed everyone that Mexico is the best host in the world, with happy and united people.” This statement’s first part certainly chimed with the sentiments expressed by England’s visiting fans.
However, the source acknowledged that the broader context is “a little more complicated than that.” This refers to ongoing challenges such as the kidnapping crisis, cartel violence, and other social problems. Such issues are noted to be reliably glossed over by bombastic sporting events.
England’s supporters, in particular, reported being significantly “bowled over” by their hosts’ warmth and graciousness. This was particularly noticeable even in the face of their own team’s defeat. Estadio Azteca itself, a venue steeped in rich history, more than justified the mythology that surrounds it. On Sunday night, it successfully generated a fevered, crackling atmosphere throughout the match.
Crucially, despite the intense passion displayed by the home crowd, there was no sense of genuine hostility directed towards their English guests. The most visible manifestation of any animosity came in the form of half-hearted chants of Puta. These were directed towards a specific group of journalists as they entered the ground. Fans of both persuasions were observed mingling freely on the concourses. In the bars off Paseo de la Reforma, songs and group photos continued well into the night.