Many good things happened to me in 2026 and probably the second best was attending the World Cup in Mexico.
Fell in love with Mexico
I spent three months in Mexico and attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup with games in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. Had the luck to party with mexican and colombian fans, saw some of the tournament’s most recognisable characters and I was crying twice, once by myself and once with mexicans, when their national team was eliminated by England, but the tournament was only one part of the story. What made those three months really special was the people I met, the friendships I made and how quickly a country I had never lived in before started feeling like somewhere I belonged. Shout-out to Jorge, Aurora and Lala and the mexican lad who invited me to a pub in Monterrey, I’m sorry, I forgot your name.
For context, I’m hungarian, and since Hungary hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since 1986, I didn’t exactly arrive in Mexico with a national team to support but after the way Mexicans welcomed me from my very first day, choosing a side was never difficult. By the time the tournament reached its knockout stages, I genuinely felt a little bit mexican.
From my parent’s living room in 2010 to the Azteca in 2026
One of the most surreal experiences of the entire trip was attending the opening match of the 2026 World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico faced South Africa. Sixteen years earlier, in 2010, I had watched those exact same national teams play the opening match of the World Cup on television. I was 15 years old, sitting at home, watching the tournament begin in South Africa and I remember the atmosphere, the vuvuzelas and Siphiwe Tshabalala’s spectacular opening goal. At that time I had no idea that sixteen years later I would be standing inside one of football’s most iconic stadiums, watching the same countries open another World Cup. I was 31, had travelled halfway around the world and was experiencing something that had previously existed only as a childhood memory. It was a solid full-circle moment and one of those special occasions when you actually stop for a second and appreciate how differently life can turn out from what you imagined when you were younger.
The Azteca itself made the occasion even more significant, this is a stadium with an extraordinary football history, associated with some of the sport’s most memorable moments. In my humble opinion the final should’ve been played here instead of a parking lot in New Jersey, but yeah, money is money, right, Gianni? After the game the afternoon and the evening was nowhere near finished, I ended up celebrating with mexican fans and partying until 2am, just to walk home slightly drunk to Colonia Obrera from the Reforma Avenue. There was no itinerary or planned nightlife experience involved, I just made friends with a couple of lads at the stadium and it was simply a World Cup opening night in Mexico City.
Mexico welcomed me from day one
All of the bad press you read about this country online is mostly bollocks. I don’t want to underestimate how dangerous some parts of this country can be but at the same time when I arrived at Colonia Obrera (an infamous neighbourhood in Mexico city) where I was staying for the first month in Mexico I felt relieved. I arrived quite late from a long-ass flight from South-Korea and went to sleep just to wake up the next morning hungry af. 8am, super jetleggad from the minus 14 hours time difference, let’s head out for breakfast. I had to make the sad realization that life is a lot slower here, instead of bustling brunch places and coffees I found a sleepy neighbourhood just waking up. Lovely, but damn.
I assume some guardian angel sent Jorge to my way, because he was the first person I asked, where can I get some breakfast and a good coffee here. Turned out he and his girlfriend own a place in the colonia and I don’t want to gatekeep it: it’s called Cretonia, if you ever visit this place try the chilaquiles and say hi to the old pug. What started as an ordinary interaction while looking for breakfast developed into a friendship that lasted throughout my month in Mexico City. We got to know each other, spent time together and he became one of the people who made the city feel familiar. You are always welcome in Hungary, my friend.
The greatest thing in this is that wasn’t an isolated example. Throughout my three months in Mexico I consistently experienced an incredible level of hospitality from locals. People were welcoming, approachable and genuinely interested in getting to know me. I was not treated like someone who had simply arrived to consume the country’s attractions and move on to the next destination, I was invited into conversations, met people through other people, made friends and experienced everyday mexican life in a way that would have been impossible during a one-week holiday.
The opening game
I remember waking up at 6 AM on the morning of the opening match, still half asleep but already buzzing with excitement. I put on Wavin’ Flag, started dancing around the room while getting ready, and eventually pulled on my green Mexico shirt (sorry Hungary). I wanted to get to the stadium early, and the journey there became part of the experience itself. I met other people along the way, exchanged a few words with fellow fans, drank tequila and slowly found myself getting swept up in the atmosphere. As I approached the Estadio Azteca and finally saw the stadium from the outside, the excitement became almost ridiculous, I was absolutely buzzing. By the time I found my seat and looked around the stands, it all hit me at once. I genuinely started crying, not because of the football, not because of some dramatic moment on the pitch, but because I was actually there. A childhood memory somehow turned into reality and I don’t think I’ll ever forget that morning.
Japan vs Tunisia in Monterrey: A different perspective on football culture
After a beautiful month spent in Mexico city I headed towards Monterrey for a couple of days to attend the Japan vs Tunisia game, which marked the 1000th game of all World Cups. Wow. This one offered a completely different atmosphere from the opening match in Mexico City, not just because I’m really into the spectacular attacking football Japan plays. Japanese supporters have developed a reputation for their discipline and respect at international tournaments, particularly for cleaning up their sections of stadiums after matches. Seeing this attitude in person was another interesting aspect of the tournament. While thousands of spectators were leaving, Japanese fans were collecting rubbish around their seats and making sure they left the stadium in good condition. It is a relatively simple gesture, but it says something about how people approach shared public spaces and their responsibility towards them.
Some of the Japanese fans handed out small, hand made souvenirs as gifts, that’s how I got a nice bandana from Suzuki with the words “thank you” and ありがとうございます on it, which translates to a very polite thank you. Gosh, it took me like 10 minutes to match these characters from the bandana to the article. Thanks mate, that bandana is at the same spot at my Mexico jersey is, safe, at home and in my heart.
What also worths a line is the fact that japanese fans don’t get offended so easily and they are super friendly. After the game I read some forums where netizens were heavily criticizing mexican fans for chanting Pikachu, Pikachu for the japanese fans and how deeply offensive that is. This is where I need to put your wokeness into perspective, the japanese fans who I met the previous night at a bar and at the game were not offended at all. Imagine being a keyboard warrior spending your sour and lonely nights at home writing stupid comments like this instead of experiencing a good fiesta and trying to be smart about matters like this.. the japanese lads I met either had proper fun chanting Pikachu Pikachu with us or they were too busy with the big ass tacos they were eating and with the big ass girls they were dancing with. I think they had fun.
Colombia vs Congo in Guadalajara: Lumumba Vea and an unforgettable Colombian celebration
Guadalajara provided another completely different World Cup experience when I attended Colombia vs Congo. If the Japanese supporters demonstrated a particular approach to stadium etiquette, the Colombian fans brought an entirely different kind of energy. The atmosphere around the match was fantastic, with supporters singing, celebrating and creating the sort of environment that makes international football tournaments special. It was also the match where I got to see Lumumba Vea, the famous Congolese fan, who became one of the recognisable characters of the tournament. Seeing someone whose presence had attracted so much attention in person was an unexpected bonus.
There is something quite remarkable about the social side of a World Cup. You arrive in a city knowing absolutely nobody, find yourself standing next to supporters from another continent, and a few hours later be celebrating together as if you had known each other for years. Colombian football culture certainly knows how to create that atmosphere and Guadalajara delivered another one of those evenings that made the three-month experience so memorable.
Spain vs Uruguay: the game I would have exchanged for Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia
Not every match turned out to be a highlight, although Spain vs Uruguay was a particularly interesting lesson in managing expectations. When I bought the World Cup tickets, I had absolutely no idea which matches I would end up getting, game allocation was essentially a blind process, so I couldn’t choose specific fixtures in advance. When Spain vs Uruguay was eventually announced, I was genuinely happy with the draw. Two major football nations, plenty of quality players and, on paper, a match that promised to be worth attending. However, after watching the game, I had to admit that I felt slightly disappointed and would probably have preferred a different fixture. Looking back, I would happily have traded that ticket for Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, which would have offered a much more unusual World Cup experience. There was, however, one moment I certainly won’t forget: watching Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte suffer a horrible injury. It was an uncomfortable reminder of the physical risks involved in professional football and one of those moments when the atmosphere in the stadium changes completely. Regardless of which team you support, seeing a player go down with a serious-looking injury is never enjoyable. Ultimately, I wasn’t disappointed that I got to attend a Spain vs Uruguay World Cup match, I was simply reminded that sometimes the fixture that looks most exciting on paper doesn’t necessarily deliver the experience you expected.
From national celebrations to the heartbreak against England
While I was travelling in the country and attending matches involving different countries, Mexico gradually became the emotional centre of my entire World Cup experience. This wasn’t something I had planned before arriving, because I didn’t come to Mexico intending to become a supporter of the national team and I didn’t expect to become so invested in its progress, but after months of living among mexicans, making friends and experiencing their hospitality, supporting the country became completely natural. I followed the team’s progress throughout the tournament and experienced the excitement that surrounded its performances. Football in Mexico is deeply connected to everyday life, friendships and national identity, and during a World Cup you can see just how much the national team means to people. The conversations, the jerseys, the celebrations and the anticipation around matchdays become part of the country’s daily rhythm. I was surrounded by people who genuinely cared about what happened on the pitch, and that enthusiasm was infectious. As Mexico continued moving forward in the tournament, I was celebrating alongside everyone else. I wasn’t watching a random national team anymore, I was literally supporting the country that had welcomed me, the people I had become friends with and the place that had become my temporary home.
Eventually, Mexico’s World Cup journey ended against England and I was fucking heartbroken. When the final whistle went, I was crying alongside mexican fans.
A country I would return to any day
Three months is a strange amount of time. Long enough to develop routines, recognise familiar faces, have favourite places and stop feeling like a visitor, but short enough that eventually you have to pack your bags and leave. Mexico gave me a lot more than four football matches and a collection of stadium photographs. It gave me friendships I wouldn’t have made otherwise, nights I hadn’t planned, conversations with complete strangers and the opportunity to experience a country through the people who actually live there. I went there expecting a great World Cup and left with a much bigger appreciation for Mexico itself. I think that’s the difference between travelling somewhere and actually connecting with it.
When the tournament ended, I also understood why people talk about the Mundial with such affection. There are always more football matches, another season, another international break, another Champions League campaign, but none of them quite recreate those few weeks when an entire country seems to live according to the football calendar. Once you’ve experienced that atmosphere from inside a host country, going back to ordinary football feels a little underwhelming. The Mundial was over, the flags eventually disappeared from the streets, and life went back to normal. Except, of course, I was leaving with a ridiculous number of memories and a country I knew I would want to visit again.
The World Cup will return to Europe in 2030. See you there, guys. People of Mexico, if you ever decide to visit Hungary, I’ll be waiting with open arms. You made me feel at home in your country, and I’d be more than happy to return the favour, so please, feel free to contact me. Love you all.
