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Mexico cheers for Japan: 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' at World Cup viewing

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Mexican fans overwhelmingly supported Japan over the Netherlands during a World Cup viewing party in Guadalajara.
  • This support stemmed from a controversial penalty call that eliminated Mexico in the 2014 World Cup against the Netherlands.
  • The shared sentiment of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' was evident as Mexican fans cheered for Japan and booed the Dutch team.

In Guadalajara, Mexico, a palpable sense of camaraderie and shared animosity united Mexican football fans in their fervent support for Japan during a World Cup viewing party.

We played against the Netherlands in the Round of 16 in the 2014 Brazil World Cup. At that time, Mexico was unfairly eliminated due to a penalty given to the Netherlands.

— ValeriaA Mexican fan explaining the historical reason behind their strong support for Japan against the Netherlands.

Despite the rain, crowds gathered at the Revolución Square to watch the match between Japan and the Netherlands. While the game featured players from both nations, the overwhelming cheers and chants of "Japón!" came from the Mexican attendees, who significantly outnumbered any Dutch supporters present. The atmosphere turned particularly hostile towards the Netherlands when they scored, with Mexican fans directing jeers at the Dutch team and vociferously backing Japan.

The strong pro-Japan sentiment among Mexicans is rooted in a painful memory from the 2014 World Cup. During a Round of 16 match, Mexico was controversially eliminated by the Netherlands after a late penalty was awarded. This incident left a lasting scar on Mexican football fans, with the phrase "No era penal" (It wasn't a penalty) becoming a national slogan.

I like Japan, but I really don't want the Netherlands to win, so I'm cheering even more for Japan.

— ValeriaA Mexican fan elaborating on her motivations for supporting Japan.

Valeria, a Mexican fan interviewed at the event, explained her strong feelings: "Japan is great, but I really don't want the Netherlands to win." This sentiment highlights how historical grievances can shape present-day allegiances in international sports.

The Mexican people are all kindly cheering for Japan, so I feel very happy and reassured.

— MinaA Japanese national living in Mexico sharing her feelings about the local support during the match.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw, a result that saw Japan perform admirably against a European powerhouse. As the game concluded, a mix of Spanish and Japanese "thank yous" filled the air, with fans exchanging cheerful goodbyes. The event underscored the age-old adage, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend,' as applied to the passionate world of football fandom.

Gracious (Spanish), Arigato gozaimasu (Japanese), and Thank you.

— FansA mix of greetings exchanged between Mexican and Japanese fans after the match.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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