La Lagunilla Market Welcomes World Cup with English Menus and Decades of Folklore

Mexico City's La Lagunilla market is immersing itself in the excitement of the 2026 World Cup, transforming its vibrant stalls with themed merchandise and international culinary offerings. Merchants are actively catering to a growing global audience, with many introducing bilingual menus and soccer-inspired dishes to capitalize on the influx of fans.

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We are putting up all the flags of the countries that are going to come and we are going to try to make a representative sausage from each country.

Erik Castillo, a vendor specializing in hot dogs, is at the forefront of this initiative. He is preparing bilingual menus and plans to feature sausages inspired by various participating national teams. Castillo, who has been crafting hot dogs with international recipes for four years, sees the "football party" as a prime opportunity to adapt to a diverse clientele. He is even incorporating a basic English "speech" to better serve his customers.

Tourists like Dieter Truppel from Brazil are drawn to La Lagunilla precisely for its authentic atmosphere, preferring it over traditional tourist sites. Truppel enjoyed a German-inspired sausage, highlighting the market's appeal to those seeking genuine cultural experiences. Beyond food, La Lagunilla is renowned for its extensive offerings of antiques, crafts, and vintage clothing, making it a multifaceted destination.

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I prefer to visit places like this than the traditional tourist sites.

For decades, La Lagunilla has served as a meeting point, attracting both locals and international visitors. Aristeo, a merchant known as 'El Bolillo' who has sold clothing and crafts since the 1990s, notes that many foreign customers become like friends. He describes the "volado", a coin toss game used to offer discounts, as a unique and exciting way to engage with customers, especially those from Japan, who are accustomed to more conventional shopping experiences.

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Here it is the folklore of Mexico, it is the joy, it is the splendor of our culture.

This blend of commerce and social interaction is what Aristeo believes continues to draw foreigners. He emphasizes that the market embodies the "folklore of Mexico, the joy, the splendor of our culture." Canadian tourist Kehan Fu, exploring the city, found the market's mix of antiques, used clothing, records, and food to be a captivating experience, offering a genuine glimpse into Mexican life.

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We have clients who become our friends, (...) we play a 'volado' (flip a coin) and they become our 'compas', whether they are Mexican, from America, from Europe...