Mexico and Ecuador fans maintain friendly rivalry despite diplomatic tensions

Ecuadorian fans are immersing themselves in the festive World Cup atmosphere in Mexico City, finding the local interactions overwhelmingly positive despite the backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between their nations.

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That's football, it's normal.

Traveling fans reported being welcomed with kindness and respect by their Mexican counterparts. Jonathan Toledo, who traveled from New York, described the experience as great, noting, "Everyone has been very friendly." This sentiment was echoed by Fernando Salinas from Ambato, who stated, "The Mexican people have been very kind, very friendly and very courteous."

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We've had a great experience here. Everyone has been very friendly.

While acknowledging a recent incident involving a "raucous midnight serenade" outside their team hotel, attributed to Mexican supporters, fans largely dismissed it as "football folklore." They emphasized that such disruptions did little to sour their overall experience or the atmosphere on the streets.

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The Mexican people have been very kind, very friendly and very courteous.

Fans are keen to keep the focus on the sport, separating the upcoming World Cup knockout match from the diplomatic tensions that arose after Ecuador's raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito in April 2024. Karolina Davila, an Ecuadorean journalist covering the team, noted, "I've been walking around with my Ecuador flag all day and people have only asked to take pictures. This is my second time in Mexico and everyone has treated me very well."

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We're not happy with what happened at the hotel, but these are things that happen in football. We're used to noise back home. It's part of football, part of the joy of the game. It gives people an extra incentive.