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Fans paint the town green: Mexican supporters create vibrant atmosphere before England match
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Fans paint the town green: Mexican supporters create vibrant atmosphere before England match

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Mexican football fans gathered outside the Estadio Ciudad de México before the match against England, showcasing vibrant face paint, jerseys, and live music.
  • Supporters expressed their passion and tradition, with some elaborating on their unique costumes and the significance of their game-day rituals.
  • A British tourist noted the intense atmosphere, contrasting it with English fan culture and highlighting the immersive, lively nature of Mexican football fandom.

Fans of the Mexican national football team converged around the Estadio Ciudad de México, creating a festive atmosphere ahead of the match against England. Decked out in green jerseys, sporting elaborate face paint, and accompanied by trumpets and live music, supporters celebrated their team with infectious energy.

Coming painted like this is my way of cheering, of telling the players we are with them from the stands.

— Raúl BartoloExplaining his pre-match ritual of face painting as a form of support for the Mexican national team.

Underneath the stadium's bridge, fans sang, danced, and took photos, transforming the esplanade into a sea of green, white, and red. Raúl Bartolo, his face painted with the Mexican flag, explained that his game-day ritual of dressing up is his way of showing support. "Coming painted like this is my way of cheering, of telling the players we are with them from the stands," he said.

For Raúl, the pre-game ambiance is as crucial as the match itself. He shared his dream of his city hosting a World Cup match. "Today we are going to beat England, I feel it!" he exclaimed.

Today we are going to beat England, I feel it!

— Raúl BartoloExpressing his confidence and excitement before the match.

A couple, Luis and Tonalli, arrived in handmade catrín and catrina costumes, traditional figures from Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations. "It's our tradition to come as catrines to important matches; it's culture, it's identity, and it's a party," Luis commented. Tonalli, who did the makeup, added that each detail holds meaning, incorporating national colors and flowers to instill pride in the team.

It's our tradition to come as catrines to important matches; it's culture, it's identity, and it's a party.

— LuisDescribing the couple's tradition of dressing in catrín and catrina attire for significant football games.

Lucas, a British tourist experiencing his first visit to Mexico, was visibly impressed by the fans' passion. "The Mexican atmosphere is something else. In England, we sing, but here, people dance, paint their faces, and live it with their whole bodies," he remarked while filming the lively scene.

The Mexican atmosphere is something else. In England, we sing, but here, people dance, paint their faces, and live it with their whole bodies.

— LucasA British tourist commenting on the vibrant and immersive fan culture in Mexico.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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