Politics aside, Mexico and Ecuador fans keep World Cup rivalry friendly

MEXICO CITY, June 30 : Shrugging off a raucous midnight serenade outside their team hotel as part of football's folklore, travelling Ecuadorean fans embraced a festive World Cup atmosphere in Mexico City on Tuesday ahead of their World Cup round of 32 clash with co-hosts Mexico.

The high-stakes knockout tie arrives against a backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between the two countries and days of heated exchanges on social media.

Adding to the pre-match tension, Ecuador's football federation complained to World Cup organisers after hundreds of Mexico supporters gathered outside the team hotel late on Monday, singing and making noise with drums, pans, and buckets.

However, fans at the ground were quick to brush off the disruption. "That's football, it's normal," said Ecuadorean fan Jonathan Toledo, who travelled from New York for the match. "We've had a great experience here. Everyone has been very friendly."

Supporters arriving at the stadium said the hostility and political tensions had done little to sour the atmosphere on the streets, describing their interactions with Mexican fans as welcoming and respectful.

"The Mexican people have been very kind, very friendly and very courteous," said Fernando Salinas, a fan who travelled from Ambato in central Ecuador.

"We're not happy with what happened at the hotel, but these are things that happen in football. We're used to noise back home. It's part of football, part of the joy of the game. It gives people an extra incentive."

LEAVING POLITICS OFF THE PITCH

Ecuador and Mexico broke off relations in April 2024 as a result of Ecuador's raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito, after which Mexico recalled its diplomats from the South American country.

Former Ecuadorean Vice President