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Explore LA

Mexico is having a spectacular World Cup run, and Los Angeles is loving it

Libby Rainey
Libby Rainey has been reporting on the World Cup from watch parties around the city.
Published Jul 1, 2026 11:24 AM
A crowd in a park watches a World Cup match on a large screen. Many wear green jerseys. Some stand up, cheering.
Jon Huizar and Ameera Asse watch Mexico play Ecuador at a city watch party. Despite Mexico being up 2-0, Huizar said he was nervous until the final whistle.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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Celebrations in Los Angeles began long before the final whistle blew on Tuesday night, when Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 to advance from the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 40 years.

It's Mexico's fourth straight win this tournament. The team hasn't let a single goal in so far. With each victory, a feeling of hopeful glee is growing in Los Angeles, where it's hard to walk a block without spotting a green Mexico jersey.

A young woman with a light skin tone and long blonde hair puts her hands over her mouth, looking up at a large outdoor screen. She wears a black jersey with green, white and red stripes.
The crowd at Sycamore Grove Park erupted when Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0, advancing the team to the World Cup's round of 16.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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Mexico fans at the city's watch parties are confident that something special is happening this World Cup.

" I think Mexico's going to take it all the way. I have a feeling," said Saul Castro at Sycamore Grove Park, where hundreds gathered Tuesday in a tangle of lawn chairs and picnic blankets to cheer on the team.

Fans in Los Angeles cheer on Mexico in the World Cup

Hundreds gathered at Sycamore Grove Park and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes to watch Mexico defeat Ecuador on Tuesday night.

A medium skin toned woman with grey hair pulled back in a ponytail wears all green and clutches a small black dog. She holds a large Mexico flag and wears a bandana with the Mexican flag's pattern around her head.
Fans celebrated in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 in a World Cup match.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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A woman and man with medium skin tones pose, arm in arm, in patterned Mexico jerseys. It's nighttime, and the surroundings are lit up by fluorescent lights. International flags are hung behind them.
Maireli Beltran and Saul Castro came to Sycamore Grove Park in Highland Park to watch Mexico beat Ecuador at a free city watch party.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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A woman and man stand arm in arm, grinning. Behind them, a crowd watches a large outdoor screen.
A crowd in Highland Park was all smiles as Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 in the World Cup Round of 32.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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A medium skin toned man holds a large Mexican flag, his arms raised. It's nighttime. A young girl wearing a green Mexico jersey helps him hold the flag.
A crowd celebrated in Highland Park after Mexico knocked Ecuador out of the World Cup Tuesday evening.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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A crowd watches a World Cup match on a large outdoor screen. Many of them wear green jerseys. A young man and woman hold hands, sitting on a bench.
Hundreds gathered at a city watch party in Highland Park to watch Mexico defeat Ecuador.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
)
Two medium-light skin toned women wearing glasses stare at a large outdoor screen in anticipation. One of them wears a Mexico zip-up sweatshirt and Mexico shirt. Behind them, someone waves a large Mexico flag.
Hundreds gathered in Highland Park to watch Mexico play Ecuador in the World Cup. The crowd whooped and hollered when Mexico won 2-0.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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A light skin toned man in a baseball hat and Mexico jersey stands in a crowd, looking up at a screen.
Hundreds gathered in Highland Park to watch the Mexico-Ecuador match on Tuesday evening.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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A medium-dark skin toned woman poses in a large sombrero and green Mexico jersey. She wears glasses and carries a stack of plastic containers full of food. A crowd of people are behind her.
Hundreds of people gathered at Casa Mexico to watch Mexico defeat Ecuador 2-0 in the World Cup.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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A woman with medium-dark skin and her hair up in a bun stands in front of a table full of Mexico merchandise. She holds a small Mexican flag.
Francis Ramirez has a shop on Olvera Street, but business has been slow. So she set up outside Casa Mexico to sell headbands and other paraphernalia to fans.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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Vendors kept their eyes on the match while selling bacon-wrapped hotdogs. Kids wrapped in Mexican flags whooped and hollered at the outdoor screen.

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Nearby at a watch party at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Eduardo Reyes was reveling in the crowd. He'd gathered his boyfriend, co-workers and family members to watch the match together.

" We haven't gotten to this point [as] the Mexican team," he said. "I'm pretty excited. We feel the energy, the positivity, and I'm just loving it."

Two medium skin-toned men wearing green Mexico jerseys pose for the camera. One of them wears a bucket hat designed to look like a soccer ball. Behind, them a crowd in mainly green watches a large screen.
Eduardo Reyes brought his boyfriend, co-workers and family members to Casa Mexico to watch the match. He said he loved seeing people come together in L.A. despite a divisive political climate.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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The line at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, remade as Casa México for the tournament, snaked down the street, and some couldn't fit into the watch party. People on the street were listening to the game on the radio.

Gisel Cruz was selling water and beer to people as they waited to get in. She was also rooting for Mexico, where she has family.

" This is crazy," she said, grinning and observing the crowd. "I like it so much."

Some rallying for Mexico on Tuesday were longtime soccer fans, taught to love the game by family members. Veronica Castro- Aceituno smiled remembering her uncles gathering together to watch soccer when she was a child growing up in Guatemala.

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" They used to play in the barrio," she said. "They will always stop and watch every game, from small ones to big ones."

A woman with a medium skin tone and long brown hair wears a green Mexico jersey. She holds a young girl up, who wears a red, green and white ruffled dress. Behind them, fans watch a large screen.
Veronica Castro-Aceituno poses with her daughter while watching the Mexico-Ecuador match. She grew up watching soccer, and especially loves rooting for the goalkeepers including Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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Others cheered for the team to honor their roots. Yesenia Rosales came from Palmdale to watch the match in Los Angeles, her hometown. Her parents left Mexico for the U.S., where they raised her.

" My dad's from Sinaloa, my mom's from Michoacán," she said. "I don't forget where I came from, where my parents came from, how hard they struggled."

Mexico plays its next match Sunday afternoon against England. Los Angeles will undoubtedly be in the streets to cheer the team on, hoping it can continue its spectacular run to the quarterfinals.

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