Southern California finds joy in Mexico's World Cup run after year of

After a year of heightened immigration enforcement, Southern California's Mexican community found a moment of collective joy and pride in Mexico's World Cup run, even as the team's journey ended with a 3-2 loss to England at the Azteca Stadium.

In a packed Santa Ana bistro, fans waved Mexican flags and sang through their disappointment, breaking into the traditional song "Cielito Lindo" — "Canta y no llores" (sing, don't cry). "This is sad," said Louie Leyla, a Mexican-American who has lived in California since 1990. "But we're going to keep rooting for our people, no matter what."

For many, the tournament represented far more than football. It offered a rare opportunity to celebrate an identity that, for much of the previous year, had been associated with fear and uncertainty due to widespread ICE raids.

A community transformed

Just a year earlier, Latino neighborhoods in Southern California were living through the height of immigration raids. Businesses saw customers disappear, families stayed indoors, and public gatherings were rare. "What a difference a year makes," said Gustavo Arellano, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, speaking from the same crowded bistro where maracas, horns, and chants nearly drowned out conversation.

He recalled how different the streets of downtown Santa Ana — the historic Latino heart of Orange County — looked in June of the previous year. "They were occupying the same streets that a year earlier were completely, completely and utterly dead," he said. "This was June last year. That was really the height of this. These streets were empty unless you were protesting."

Arellano noted that National Guard vehicles had been stationed just blocks from his wife's shop during immigration operations, while businesses across the neighborhood suffered dramatic losses as raids continued. "Fast forward a year later... this is catharsis — for Mexicans especially, but for Latinos in general," he said.

Football as a unifying force

Mexico's role as one of the World Cup's three host nations, combined with the team's run to the knockout stages, created something larger than football. Supporters who only months earlier had worried about immigration enforcement were now singing the Mexican national anthem, waving Mexican flags, and wearing El Tri shirts in public fan zones packed with families.

"It's a loss," said Alicia Rojas, a fan at the bistro. "But it's a win for our community in Santa Ana." Nearby, Cynthia Rebolledo pointed to her young son, dressed head-to-toe in Mexico colors. "He keeps asking if we're still going to the parade," she said with a smile. "He thought we won. He's been rooting for Mexico — and for his community."

For many, expressing their Mexican identity has never been at odds with being American. Arellano noted that Mexican football supporters were once frequently portrayed as "unpatriotic" for displaying Mexican flags, particularly during the anti-immigration politics of the 1990s. "The expression of these fan bases has gotten bigger as America has gotten more diverse," he said.

As music blared and fans danced with Mexican flags, Leigh Slater observed, "Football is like life. You lose, you win. But what we've seen throughout this World Cup is the unbreakable spirit of immigrants in this country."

For weeks, Mexican supporters have been among the tournament's most visible fans, filling stadiums across the United States and in Mexico with bright green shirts, flags, and chants. Nowhere has that been more apparent than Southern California, home to one of the largest Mexican communities outside Mexico itself. The scene of joy was a stark contrast to the area's recent past, offering a moment of respite and unity for a community that had endured a difficult year.