"Beat Japan! Please!"... Why did Mexicans go wild? [World Cup On-Site Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

At the Fan Festa held at Liberación Square, located in the center of Guadalajara, a very interesting and unique scene was captured. The majority of Mexican local spectators, filling the large screen, directed one-sided yet passionate support toward the Japanese national team, which had traveled from the other side of the globe.

On the afternoon of the 14th (local time), the large screen at the Liberación Square Fan Festa broadcast the first match of Group F in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup group stage, played between the Netherlands and Japan at the Dallas Stadium in the United States. From the start of the match, Mexican football fans unanimously sided with Japan.

Throughout the game, they chanted "Japón!" (Japan) in Spanish to energize the Japanese players on the pitch. Conversely, whenever the Netherlands launched sharp attacks or created situations threatening Japan's goal, the square was filled with boos and sighs.

The passion of the local fans even swallowed the weather. Around the middle of the match, a torrential downpour characteristic of Guadalajara poured heavily for about 30 minutes. Yet, surprisingly, the numerous spectators gathered in the central area of the square did not seek shelter or even use umbrellas; instead, they stood in the rain without flinching, keeping their eyes fixed on the screen for the full 90 minutes. The immersion at the scene was so intense that even this reporter, who watched the match alongside them at the square's hanbok area, had to continue reporting while completely soaked by the rain.

The match played under the pouring rain was nothing short of a bloodbath. After finishing the first half scoreless, the square was filled with deep regret when Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands scored the opening goal with a header in the 5th minute of the second half.

However, when Keito Nakamura of Japan equalized with a right-footed turning shot in the 12th minute of the second half, Mexican spectators cheered as if their own team had scored the goal. Even when they conceded another goal to Crysencio Summerville of the Netherlands in the 19th minute of the second half, trailing 1-2, the Mexican fans' chants of "Japón" did not stop.

Finally, when Daichi Kamada scored a dramatic equalizing header from a corner kick situation in the 44th minute of the second half, Liberación Square plunged into a veritable whirlwind of frenzy.

While the excitement of the dramatic equalizer had not yet subsided, some Mexican spectators approached the media team, asked if they were Japanese upon seeing their East Asian features, and greeted them warmly. When the reporter replied, "Korean," they smiled and gave a thumbs-up.

When the match ended in a 2-2 draw, the Mexicans gathered in the square all chanted for Japan, celebrating the acquisition of one point.

The festive atmosphere continued even after the match ended. When a local Japanese football fan wearing a Japanese jersey was spotted on one side of the square, excited Mexican spectators rushed over, lifted him up, and performed a traditional Korean cheer (Hwanghae-rae), creating a spectacular scene.

When asked why they supported Japan so one-sidedly, a local Mexican fan who watched the match at the scene gave an unexpectedly warm answer. He said, "Mexicans love Asia. Koreans are the same," and added, "Because we are all friends who must share friendship across borders through football," while smiling brightly.

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*This content was translated by AI.