MEXICO CITY — Ecuador supporters brushed aside a late-night disturbance outside their team’s hotel on Tuesday, saying football’s festive traditions outweighed political tensions ahead of their World Cup round-of-32 meeting with co-host Mexico.
The knockout match comes amid strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, but fans arriving at the Azteca Stadium said the atmosphere in Mexico City had remained welcoming despite heated exchanges on social media in recent days.
Ecuador’s football federation lodged a complaint with World Cup organizers after hundreds of Mexico supporters gathered outside the team’s hotel late Monday, singing and creating noise with drums, pans and buckets in an attempt to disrupt the players’ rest.
Traveling Ecuador fans, however, largely dismissed the incident as part of football culture.
“That’s football, it’s normal,” said Jonathan Toledo, who traveled from New York to support Ecuador. “We’ve had a great experience here. Everyone has been very friendly.”
Many supporters said their interactions with local fans had been respectful and warm despite the political backdrop.
“The Mexican people have been very kind, very friendly and very courteous,” said Fernando Salinas, who traveled from Ambato in central Ecuador.
“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.”
Relations between Ecuador and Mexico have remained frozen since April 2024, when Ecuadorian police raided the Mexican embassy in Quito and arrested former Vice President Jorge Glas after Mexico had granted him diplomatic asylum.
The diplomatic dispute deepened when Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum later said Mexico would not restore relations while Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa remained in office.
Supporters attending Tuesday’s match said those political disagreements had little impact on the World Cup atmosphere.
“I think it’s mostly something on social media,” said Ecuadorian journalist Karolina Davila, who has been following her country’s campaign. “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.”
Davila suggested Ecuador’s travel delay before Monday’s official activities may have been more disruptive than the midnight serenade.
“What happened afterwards is something we actually enjoy as Ecuadorians,” she said. “It’s part of football folklore and maybe it even gives the players an extra boost.”
Mexico entered the match seeking its first World Cup knockout victory on home soil since the 1986 tournament, while Ecuador aimed to reach the quarterfinals for the first time after advancing to the round of 16 in 2006.
