Mexico's win an emotional celebration of World Cup...
Key takeaways
- I happily teared up because of the privilege to witness history in the beautiful game, with Mexico becoming the first nation to host three FIFA World Cups.
- It was here in 1986 that the national team finished as quarterfinalists, equaling their best-ever performance, which came the first time they hosted the tournament in 1970.
- From 1994 to 2018, Mexico posted six consecutive and underwhelming round-of-16 finishes in World Cups.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
I happily teared up because of the privilege to witness history in the beautiful game, with Mexico becoming the first nation to host three FIFA World Cups. I quietly broke down as I thought of my Mexican grandmother, a supporter of the sport and of El Tri, who passed away just weeks before the start of the tournament. With my emotions getting swept up in a festive atmosphere, I thought of the connection between the past and present, which was playing out in front of me.
Forty years before Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in Thursday's raucous World Cup opener, El Tri coach Javier Aguirre wasn't on the sidelines, but on the field as a player the last time that his country hosted the tournament.
It was here in 1986 that the national team finished as quarterfinalists, equaling their best-ever performance, which came the first time they hosted the tournament in 1970. Those quarterfinal finishes set a new benchmark for Mexican soccer, uplifting the country that had hoped to enter the upper echelon of the sport.