Homophobic chants and hotel noise: Mexican fans mar World Cup round-of-32 clash with Ecuador

Pre-match disturbance

In the early hours before Mexico's World Cup round-of-32 match against Ecuador, several dozen Mexican fans gathered outside the visiting team's hotel in the Santa Fe district of Mexico City. According to local media reports, supporters used loudspeakers, drums, trumpets, horns, and motorcycle engines to generate noise from midnight until the early morning. The aim was to deprive the Ecuadorian players of sleep, a tactic rooted in a polarizing Latin American football tradition that has increasingly been used as a psychological weapon against visiting teams.

Police arrived around midnight to disperse the crowd, but the disruption had already prompted a strong response. Hours before the scheduled late kick-off, the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) filed a formal complaint with World Cup organizers.

“This behaviour is far from the principles of fair play, fairness and unity that a football World Cup should represent.”

Homophobic chants in the stadium

Once the match began at the Azteca Stadium, another controversy erupted. Multiple media reports, including from the Associated Press, indicated that Mexican supporters directed a homophobic slur at Ecuador's goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez each time he took a goal kick. The chants were audible despite the extremely loud atmosphere in the iconic venue.

Official reactions

The FEF urged authorities to pay greater attention to the incidents and to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of its players, coaching staff and fans. It expressed confidence that the unsporting actions would not overshadow the football celebration, and stressed that Ecuador would always respond on the pitch. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the issue, calling for respectful behaviour.

“We must always be respectful toward others.”

She added that victories of the Mexican national team bring enormous joy, and that she trusted the Mexican people to act responsibly.

A recurring problem

Homophobic chants have been a persistent issue for Mexican football. Around three weeks before the World Cup, FIFA ordered the closure of fan sections at a test match in Puebla for the same reason. The Mexican Football Federation had also launched a campaign titled 'The wave yes, the shout no', featuring members of the country's historic championship-winning team. It references the legacy of La Ola, the stadium wave that originated in Mexico during the 1986 World Cup.

Ecuador's trip to the capital was also hampered by travel delays. Coach Sebastián Beccacece noted that the journey took three hours longer than planned, without explanation. The match itself began about an hour late because of adverse weather.