Tens of thousands of Mexicans heading to Qatar have been warned to leave their tequila at home as authorities seek to avoid a FIFA World Cup culture clash in the Muslim Gulf state.
Fans from the Latin American nation are expected to make up one of the largest — and most exuberant — contingents of foreign supporters.
“We like to sing, drink and dance all the time,” said superfan Hector Chavez, who has attended 10 World Cups.
Photo: AFP
Fun-loving Mexicans are welcome in Doha provided they respect a few rules, said the businessman, named by the emirate as a fan “ambassador.”
“It’s forbidden to bring alcohol into Qatar,” said Chavez, who is to celebrate his 60th birthday in the Middle Eastern nation, where drinking in public is normally illegal.
Alcohol is to be sold at special zones around the eight tournament stadiums before and after games, in a FIFA fan zone and some specially designated areas, but the price of beer — several times more expensive than in Mexico — might be hard for the country’s fans to swallow.
Chavez has tried to anticipate any possible trouble with rival fans in the small peninsula nation, where Mexico is to face Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia in the group stage.
“I know the representative of the Argentinian supporters. If anything happens, I can call him to calm his troops,” he said.
Mexico expects 80,000 of its citizens to visit Qatar.
They have paid US$14,000 to US$20,000 each for a package including flights, accommodation and tickets to the three group-stage matches, the Mexican Travel Agents Association (AMAV) said.
“Many fans save for four years to be able to attend the World Cup,” AMAV president Eduardo Paniagua Morales said.
It would be the most Mexicans yet to descend on a Middle Eastern country with a different religion, language and laws, Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard said.
“We can’t take tequila in our luggage,” Ebrard said in August as he announced measures aimed at warding off trouble.
About 15 members of the Mexican National Guard, unarmed and out of uniform, are to be in Qatar to act as liaisons between fans and Qatari authorities. A special help center is also to be staffed by Mexican officials.
Mexicans are usually one of the largest groups of foreign supporters at FIFA World Cups — 15,000 went to South Africa in 2010, 34,000 to Brazil in 2014 and 44,000 to Russia in 2018.
Not all of them have covered themselves in glory.
“A drunken Mexican extinguished the eternal flame of the unknown soldier in France in 1998 by urinating on it,” Chavez said.
In South Africa in 2010, a Mexican was arrested for trying to put a sombrero on a statue of former South African president Nelson Mandela.
Despite their fervor, Mexican fans have never seen their team progress past the quarter-finals — a feat achieved only at the World Cups in Mexico in 1970 and 1986.
“It’s a very devoted fan base for a team that has rarely lived up to expectations,” Mexican author Juan Villoro said.
However, if there was a World Cup for supporters, “Mexico would reach the final,” he said.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward and Matthew Lugo homered, and the Los Angeles Angels spoiled Clayton Kershaw’s season debut, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Saturday night to take the first two games of the three-game series. Kershaw allowed three runs and threw 38 pitches in the first inning. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner lasted four innings, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Shoulder, toe and knee injuries limited Kershaw to seven games last season, and his 2025 debut was delayed as he recovered from multiple offseason surgeries. O’Hoppe had two hits with
RSS