2026 World Cup: Mexicans in the U.S. Mourn Tri’s Elimination

Mexico’s elimination was felt far beyond the Azteca Stadium. It also hurt in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas and many cities across the United States. There, the green jersey is worn as a way to go back home for a while.

Mexico was eliminated from the World Cup after losing 3-2 to England in the round of 16. The match had started with hope and ended with a mixture of anger, pride and silence. Reuters described the scene at the Azteca as a celebration that ended in tears.

More than 80,000 fans filled the stadium and watched as the dream slipped away. The night brought rain, tension and enormous anticipation from the first minute. For many, that atmosphere summarized years of waiting and accumulated hope.

The blow was also felt in the United States

In the United States, the impact of the defeat had deeper implications. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 40 million people of Mexican origin live in the U.S. This community represents 57% of the country’s Hispanic population.

This figure helps explain why each Mexico match is also experienced on the other side of the border. It happens in bars, family homes, restaurants, fan zones and family gatherings. There, soccer blends identity, nostalgia and a sense of belonging.

For many Mexicans in the U.S., the defeat was not merely a sporting one. It was the end of a dream shared with parents, children and grandparents. That emotion was experienced in two languages, with hearts divided between two countries. In those gatherings, Mexico was not just a national team: it was a way of saying “this is also who I am.”

Close, but not close enough

The pain was greater because the match seemed recoverable until the end. England finished with ten players for much of the second half. Mexico pushed with everything they had, but could not achieve the result they needed.

After the final whistle, Javier Aguirre lamented the errors committed by his team. However, he also highlighted the effort delivered by his players throughout the tournament. The coach made clear that the elimination leaves a bittersweet assessment.

Among Mexicans in the United States, the dominant feeling was not just anger. It was something more complex: sadness at being eliminated, pride at having competed, frustration at having come so close. It was compounded by that particular nostalgia of those who experience the World Cup as a direct connection to their country of origin.

Among famous Mexicans, the defeat was not viewed solely as a failure either. Andrea Legarreta spoke of pride and thanked the team for bringing together “an entire nation.” Eugenio Derbez called for standing with the team also “in the bad times.”

Rocío Banquells expressed with just a few words the feeling of the hard blow left by the end. “And that’s it? Was that all?” she wrote, summing up the sentiment of millions. Even outside Mexico there were messages of affection for the eliminated team. Flea, bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, sent a message of love to the country after the Tri’s elimination.

Who Mexican fans support now

With Mexico out of the running, many fans don’t change jerseys so quickly. Some will follow Latin American national teams or teams with globally recognized stars. Others, especially among Mexicans in the United States, will keep an eye on the U.S. if it continues advancing in the tournament.

But the strongest feeling does not seem to be the search