They played a soccer game at Sophie Stadium on Saturday.
That many people don’t really care.
Mexico won, beating the Dominican Republic 3-2 in their first match of the Conca Caff Gold Cup for a month. But even the biggest fans of the team found it difficult to celebrate given what was going on a few dozen miles away. There, on the eighth day of the eighth protest against federal immigrant raids targeting Latino communities, hundreds of people protested in front of police, National Guard forces and the US Marines.
“When a Mexican team plays, it’s a celebration, right? But wasn’t it?” said El Coronel, leader of the “Panchovila Army.”
Fans cheer for Mexico before a Conca Caff Gold Cup soccer match against the Dominican Republic at Sophie Stadium on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/AP)
They couldn’t celebrate because many of Southern California’s Latino communities (without documented citizens and immigrants) were targeted by ice agents. So they left Saturday’s game and believed it would be an environment where ice targets were plentiful.
In response, Pancho Villa’s army limited their band to their barracks and canceled the traditionally delightful previous tailgate party on Saturday. Two other major supporters groups on the US national team, Cielto Lind and Patron de Mexico, did the same.
“We don’t feel that it’s right to celebrate with music and food [when] Our brothers and sisters, cousins and mothers are all struggling with what’s going on,” said El Coronel, who has joined the game as a civilian and wears a blue hoodie rather than a national team jersey.
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced on social media that federal agents will provide security for the FIFA Club World Cup, which began Saturday in South Florida, raising concerns that fans who take part in football games could be targeted by immigrant sweeps. Security was normal at Sophie Stadium, but visibly limited by unified police officers and ubiquitous yellow-covered workers at Contemporary Services Corp., a private company.
“Everything,” El Colonel said.
But fearing what would happen, most of Sophie’s top deck was empty, with only half filling in the bowl below. Mexico’s final three matches at Sophie averaged over 64,000 attendees. Saturday’s Drew portrayed the frequently lurking crowd, announced at 54,309.
Carmen Garcia of El Monte has arrived, but he reluctantly. She bought a $350 VIP ticket a month ago, but had the idea that an ice attack would begin.
“I tried to refund,” she said in Spanish. “They said no. So we’re here, but we’re not happy.”
One person who didn’t enter was Daniel Fuentes of Los Angeles. He instead gathered together with a group of anti-ice protesters across the street from the stadium hours before the game.
“I’m a soccer fan, but today it’s not for football,” he said in Spanish. “It’s not fair what Donald Trump is doing. They’re lifting our workers by saying they’re criminals, but that’s not the case.
“They are furious at our Latinos, saying we are the worst.”
The Mexican Football Federation generates about a third of its annual revenue in the US through match-day revenue, television rights and sponsorship transactions driven by the country’s large Mexican and Mexican-American fan base. For example, the team’s US tour prior to the 2022 World Cup reportedly generated $31 million.
Fans tailgate in the Sofi Stadium car park on Saturday before the CONCACAF Gold Cup match between Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
(Wally Skalij/AP)
However, these fans have supported the team for a long time, and given the opportunity to return their favor, the team decided to remain silent. Media told Coach Javier Aguirre, the Mexican-born son of Spanish immigrants, that his players would only answer questions about football.
Mold Cup champion Mexico began defending their titles in 16 team tournaments every other year. The Dominican Republic ranked 139th in the world and played for the first time in the Confederation Championship, annoying “El Toray” for most of the first half before Edson Alvarez’s Header stayed in Mexico before a break.
Raul Zimenez took the crowd out of less than two minutes of annoyance in the second half, chasing a through-ball into the penalty area from Santiago Guimenez, doubled the lead with his right foot from the edge of the six-yard box.
Peter Gonzalez halved the Dominican Republic’s deficit 51 minutes before Mexico’s Cesar Montez and Dominican Edison Azcona traded a score of 14 less.
Montez’s goal came first in the 53rd minute with a header that bouncing off several players before hoping once in one way just inside the left goalpost.
Azcona answered with a right-footed shot from the left field that bouncing off Mexican defender and goalkeeper Louis Malagon.
The team moved to Arlington, Texas for their second group play game on Wednesday, with Mexico playing Suriname and the Dominican Republic playing Costa Rica. The US opened a Gold Cup schedule for Trinidad and Tobago in San Jose on Sunday.
Staff writer Eduard Cauich contributed to this story.
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