"The only problem with this World Cup is that it isn't taking place in Mexico the whole time." That's a visitor from Yorkshire, England — and it's probably the most honest review any host nation has received in years.
While the United States spent its early days fielding complaints about visa headaches, eye-watering transport costs, and tip culture culture shock, Mexico just got on with it. The streets of Monterrey's nightlife district tell the whole story: elderly women dancing salsa with Dutch fans in sandals, Moroccan and Mexican flags being waved in tandem, and South Korean supporters — still raw from a 1-0 defeat — being consoled with tequila shots before the night was out.
A country that actually lives football
This is Mexico's third World Cup as a host, following 1970 and 1986. No other country has done it three times. That experience shows.
Football isn't a novelty here the way it can feel in parts of the United States, where the New York Knicks winning their first NBA title in over fifty years managed to drown out World Cup noise during the tournament's opening days. In Mexico, national team players stare down from roadside billboards. Coca-Cola cans have been recoloured green — the shade of El Tri's jersey. Taxi drivers, flight attendants, pizza delivery workers: all in the shirt.
"Mexico has a wonderful culture of hospitality," said Ahmed from Egypt. "And after all, knows a thing or two about major football events."
Hard to argue.
The shadow behind the celebrations
It hasn't been entirely smooth. Pre-tournament protests and security debates created real uncertainty in the build-up, and crowd control has emerged as a genuine concern after three fans died in a crush during celebrations. Those aren't footnotes — they're serious failures that organisers will need to answer for.
But on the ground, for most international visitors, the experience has overwhelmed the anxiety. "I was a bit afraid I'd fall to the ground and get hurt, but they caught me," said Leonardo Jun from South Korea, describing being tossed into the air by a crowd of Mexican fans. "Everyone took photos with me as if I were a pop star."
Mexico and Canada each host 13 of the tournament's 104 matches. The opening game was in Mexico City. El Tri's Round of 16 clash with England will be the last match on Mexican soil — after that, everything moves to the United States for the quarterfinals onwards. Given the atmosphere Mexico has generated, that feels like a significant loss for the neutral.
"I think Mexico performed better than the United States and Canada," said Jenny. "For me, they are the winners among the hosts."
Right now, it's hard to make a case against her.
