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Mexico鈥檚 national men鈥檚 soccer team means everything to Abraham Puente, a first-generation Mexican-American living in New Mexico.

鈥淚 see the sacrifices of my parents and what they did for me, and just the passion of being Mexican-American means so much to me,鈥� said Puente, a veteran of the United States military.

Puente has been a fan of Mexico鈥檚 team for as long as he can remember and was one of the hundreds of people who showed up at Revel on Thursday afternoon to root for El Tri against South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, being played in Mexico City. 

The Mexican Consulate in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 sponsored the watch party, titled Fiesta Futbolera 鈥� Casa M茅xico en Nuevo M茅xico.

鈥淲e wanted to give something to our community and have our families here to watch with us,鈥� said Ana Lopez, the event coordinator, who spoke to the Journal in Spanish.

In attendance was Sergio Rivas, a Cibola High School graduate who went on to play six seasons with New Mexico United.

鈥淔煤tbol is the sport of love, no matter what you do, no matter where you come from, everyone loves to watch the World Cup,鈥� he said.

In a speech he gave in Spanish before kickoff, Rivas addressed the current immigration crackdown in America and the uneasiness Hispanic communities are feeling.

Later, he spoke to the Journal.

鈥淎 lot of Hispanics are scared right now because of what is going on in our country. The World Cup to me means inclusion; we're all humans, brothers and sisters,鈥� he said in English.

Santa Andazola, a co-host of a show on Radio Lobo, 97.7-FM, also said this World Cup 鈥� which is being hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States and Canada 鈥� means something more for Hispanic communities.

鈥淲ith this climate, we're always defending ourselves. We're always telling people what our true heart is. If we win, you are going to see our true heart,鈥� she told the Journal. 鈥淚t would be so uplifting for us to win this, especially now; we need this.鈥�

The Revel crowd had a lot to cheer as Mexico won 2-0. Mexico鈥檚 next match is against South Korea, at 7 p.m. June 18 in Guadalajara, Mexico. New Mexico United and the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 are teaming up to host a watch party for that match at Phil Chac贸n Park.

The United States Men鈥檚 National Team begins its World Cup journey against Paraguay at 7 p.m. Friday in Los Angeles. NMU and the city will host a watch party for that match at Montgomery Park.

Isabella Campbell is an intern with the New Mexico Local News Fellowships and Internships Program, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across New Mexico. Learn more at . She can be reached at icampbell@abqjournal.com.