Flew into Mexico City from DC last night and I’m already clocking the shift in energy.
I left my England shirt in the bag for this flight despite wearing it loud and proud on every single one before now without any second thoughts.
But here? The Mexico fan vibe isn’t reading as normal rivalry. It’s heavier and meaner. It’s not banter; there’s no playfulness about it. There’s actual aggression in it, and underneath that, something colder and almost unhinged.
Walked a few blocks around the hotel in my England shirt this morning and got called “puta gringa” - white whore, basically. The whole atmosphere is steeped in this hostility.
Police have shut roads down, running checkpoints, confiscating glass bottles like they’re expecting things to pop off. Riot vibes. I’ve traveled everywhere in this shirt and never once felt this on edge.
It feels like it’s more than “just football” at stake here. I hope that I’m reading it all wrong, that it’s just pre-match noise that burns off once the final whistle blows and everyone goes home.
This is really very sad.
Mexico fans are making a massive noise in the middle of the night outside the hotel where the England team are staying in an attempt to keep them awake at night.
I really hope that England thrashes Mexico.
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Ayanda babatunde
