By Isabelle Perez, September 8, 2026
Every four years, the World Cup comes around and is a time for people from all backgrounds to watch their family’s home countries compete in one of the biggest sports events in the world.
This year’s World Cup, I found myself in many conversations with friends and family about why I do not root for the United States team even though I was born and raised here.
It is a question I have thought about multiple times during the World Cup as I am connected to both my Mexican and American identity. Rooting for team Mexico goes deeper than picking a side.
A 2021 Pew Research Center study found that 71% of Hispanics felt a strong cultural connection to their family’s origin. For a lot of Latino Americans, the team you root for is not really a choice. It is something passed down through generations, much like the way food and language are.
I can recall watching my grandma standing in front of the TV screaming loud and proud anytime Team Mexico got near the goal. Watching my grandma root for her home country made it natural for me to claim the same team.
When it comes to using my cultural identity to root for a team, I am not alone. In a 2026 Pew Research Center study, 80% of U.S. Hispanics have used their family’s country of origin or heritage to describe themselves.
Language also plays a significant role when rooting for Mexico. There is a difference growing up watching English-language broadcast versus Spanish-language.
The Associated Press reported that English-speaking Americans were drawn to watch the World Cup through the Spanish-language broadcast. The commentators always know how to create an atmosphere of pride through the screen.
Hearing every scream of “GOAL,” amplifies the joy and excitement all the viewers feel.
For Latino Americans strongly connected to a team, getting eliminated can feel complicated, especially when having a dual identity.
When Mexico was eliminated, that loss was personal because of my family ties. The U.S. being eliminated the next day was also a big loss.
Latino Americans enjoying the World Cup and teams they root for should not be an identity or loyalty test. Connecting with my family’s country does not automatically mean rejecting my American identity.
“Identity is a lot bigger than a sports team you choose to go for,” said Natalie Contreras, a computer information systems student who grew up watching Mexico play in the World Cup with her family in her backyard.
What I have come to understand is as much as you want to support both identities equally, it is not wrong to lean toward the one where culture and tradition have played a huge role in what jersey you wear.
