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Mexico's fans at Copa América have two messages: viva El Tri, and dump Trump Mexico's fans at Copa América have two messages: viva El Tri, and dump Trump
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump is making a campaign stop in Houston on Friday. He was already in the city on Monday in fright-mask form, courtesy of Sergio Perez, one of several Mexican fans at the team’s Copa América match against Venezuela who made their feelings clear about the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Donald Trump is making a campaign stop in Houston on Friday. He was already in the city on Monday in fright-mask form, courtesy of Sergio Pérez, one of several Mexican fans at the team’s Copa América match against Venezuela who made their feelings clear about the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
“Trump right now, everybody doesn’t like him,” Perez said, his voice muffled from behind the rubber mask. He posed for pictures next to a unicorn, a clown and a man holding a placard that said: “Trump I brought my birth certificate just in case. #FuckTrump”. “Trump right now, everybody doesn’t like him,” Pérez said, his voice muffled from behind the rubber mask. He posed for pictures next to a unicorn, a clown and a man holding a placard that said: “Trump I brought my birth certificate just in case. #FuckTrump.”
Hours before kick-off, supporters gathered to drink beer, listen to music and mingle in the 95F (35C) heat at the fan zone outside NRG Stadium, a smattering of burgundy-clad Venezuelan fans visible amid a canopy of thousands in Mexico’s green, like apples in an orchard.Hours before kick-off, supporters gathered to drink beer, listen to music and mingle in the 95F (35C) heat at the fan zone outside NRG Stadium, a smattering of burgundy-clad Venezuelan fans visible amid a canopy of thousands in Mexico’s green, like apples in an orchard.
Some Venezuelans brandished placards assailing the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro. For a few Mexican fans, denigrating Trump was a jocular expression of pride and national identity. A “Trump chinga tu madre” (“Trump fuck your mother”) sign was part of the theatre of going to the match, akin to sporting a lucha libre mask, a tricolour wig or an XXL sombrero. Some Venezuelans brandished placards assailing the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. For a few Mexican fans, denigrating Trump was a jocular expression of pride and national identity. A “Trump chinga tu madre” (“Trump fuck your mother”) sign was part of the theatre of going to the match, akin to sporting a lucha libre mask, a tricolour wig or an XXL sombrero.
“In Mexico everybody hates Donald Trump,” said Mauricio Rossier, his face hidden by a blue wrestling hood. The 42-year-old lives in Mexico City. Mexico games on US soil are special occasions, he said, especially when the neighbours meet, as they did last October when Mexico won, 3-2.“In Mexico everybody hates Donald Trump,” said Mauricio Rossier, his face hidden by a blue wrestling hood. The 42-year-old lives in Mexico City. Mexico games on US soil are special occasions, he said, especially when the neighbours meet, as they did last October when Mexico won, 3-2.
For that occasion, Fox Sports and TV Azteca produced promotional videos using Trump’s infamous comments about Mexican immigrants spliced with match action.For that occasion, Fox Sports and TV Azteca produced promotional videos using Trump’s infamous comments about Mexican immigrants spliced with match action.
The US and Mexico have now reached the quarter-finals of this month’s competition and could yet have an unlikely meeting in the final. “Sport and politics I think are separate things, but it can show the power that Mexicans have in the US,” Rossier said. “If you go to any other match, it’s very different. Mexico puts some special feeling into the games.”The US and Mexico have now reached the quarter-finals of this month’s competition and could yet have an unlikely meeting in the final. “Sport and politics I think are separate things, but it can show the power that Mexicans have in the US,” Rossier said. “If you go to any other match, it’s very different. Mexico puts some special feeling into the games.”
The US team may have a loyal fan base, but thanks to Mexico they are not the most popular national side in their own country. On 9 June, more than 83,000 saw El Tri beat Jamaica at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The crowd for Monday’s 1-1 draw in Houston was 67,319, some 16,000 more people than saw the US beat Paraguay in Philadelphia last week.The US team may have a loyal fan base, but thanks to Mexico they are not the most popular national side in their own country. On 9 June, more than 83,000 saw El Tri beat Jamaica at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The crowd for Monday’s 1-1 draw in Houston was 67,319, some 16,000 more people than saw the US beat Paraguay in Philadelphia last week.
That is not only down to different sporting priorities, but also demographic realities that Trump apparently wishes to reverse.That is not only down to different sporting priorities, but also demographic realities that Trump apparently wishes to reverse.
El Tri draw well here in Houston, a city that claims to be the US’s most diverse metropolitan area, in a “minority-majority” state: it’s home to more than 10 million Hispanic people, 39% of the Texas population. In 2000 that figure was 32%.El Tri draw well here in Houston, a city that claims to be the US’s most diverse metropolitan area, in a “minority-majority” state: it’s home to more than 10 million Hispanic people, 39% of the Texas population. In 2000 that figure was 32%.
“Not all Mexicans are whatever he says. So whenever Mexico wins … it sends a good message to him,” said Alex Ramirez, a 24-year-old dressed as an Aztec warrior. He lives in Houston and was born in Mexico. “Not all Mexicans are whatever he says. So whenever Mexico wins … it sends a good message to him,” said Alex Ramírez, a 24-year-old dressed as an Aztec warrior. He lives in Houston and was born in Mexico.
“I’m proud of my country and I’m proud to live in the US because it’s a great country too,” he said. “I’ve been here for 17 years and sometimes we do get, like, a little bit discriminated because of where we come from and we’re proud of our country.“I’m proud of my country and I’m proud to live in the US because it’s a great country too,” he said. “I’ve been here for 17 years and sometimes we do get, like, a little bit discriminated because of where we come from and we’re proud of our country.
“Some people don’t like it here when we take pride in our country, tell us to go back to where we come from. But the US is a great country, we like being here, there’s lot of opportunities to live great; but we also can’t forget about where we come from.” “Some people don’t like it here when we take pride in our country, tell us to go back to where we come from. But the US is a great country, we like being here, there’s lots of opportunities to live great; but we also can’t forget about where we come from.”
Jose Agurre, a Houstonian originally from Mexico, said that Hispanic people come to the US to work hard and seek better opportunities, but sometimes face discrimination and danger. “The United States is supposed to be the best country in the world. Sometimes I think it’s not true,” he said, referring to the massacre in Orlando and the divisive rhetoric that has followed. “Everybody looks, who’s the guy, where is he from?” José Agurre, a Houstonian originally from Mexico, said that Hispanic people come to the US to work hard and seek better opportunities, but sometimes face discrimination and danger. “The United States is supposed to be the best country in the world. Sometimes I think it’s not true,” he said, referring to the massacre in Orlando and the divisive rhetoric that has followed. “Everybody looks, who’s the guy, where is he from?”
Shortly before kick-off, after fans had entered the arena through metal detectors and past the kind of concrete barriers seen at airports and high-profile political sites, there was a brief pause in the boisterous atmosphere: a period of silence to mark the tragedy in Florida.Shortly before kick-off, after fans had entered the arena through metal detectors and past the kind of concrete barriers seen at airports and high-profile political sites, there was a brief pause in the boisterous atmosphere: a period of silence to mark the tragedy in Florida.
“United with Orlando – Embrace Diversity” flashed up on the big screens. A rainbow flag was held aloft in the stands near the halfway line. It was a silent gesture of empathy at an intensely tribal, partisan occasion; a reminder of how sports tournaments stress differences yet celebrate commonalities, portraying an idealised form of multiculturalism.“United with Orlando – Embrace Diversity” flashed up on the big screens. A rainbow flag was held aloft in the stands near the halfway line. It was a silent gesture of empathy at an intensely tribal, partisan occasion; a reminder of how sports tournaments stress differences yet celebrate commonalities, portraying an idealised form of multiculturalism.
Earlier, Rudolph Barajas strode through a parking lot wearing a green Mexico top, the Stars and Stripes, and an Uncle Sam hat and beard. “Being Mexican American is good because you get both home turfs,” he said.Earlier, Rudolph Barajas strode through a parking lot wearing a green Mexico top, the Stars and Stripes, and an Uncle Sam hat and beard. “Being Mexican American is good because you get both home turfs,” he said.
Born in the US to Mexican parents, his attachment to both countries does not cause ambivalence whenever they meet on the pitch. “I root for the United States. Because I love this country and I support my team,” the 22-year-old student said.Born in the US to Mexican parents, his attachment to both countries does not cause ambivalence whenever they meet on the pitch. “I root for the United States. Because I love this country and I support my team,” the 22-year-old student said.
“[Football] unites the people, it doesn’t matter what race you are. If your parents are from Mexico or the United States, it’s a good little chemistry going on, but I like when they play each other because it fires up the house.”“[Football] unites the people, it doesn’t matter what race you are. If your parents are from Mexico or the United States, it’s a good little chemistry going on, but I like when they play each other because it fires up the house.”
While his brother, Jose Olivas, a 23-year-old electrician, suspects Trump might win the election, Barajas is not so sure. “No, because I have the right to vote so I can make a difference,” he said. “They say if voting was like a soccer game, Trump wouldn’t win because we would all come vote and come together. That’s what soccer does.” While his brother, José Olivas, a 23-year-old electrician, suspects Trump might win the election, Barajas is not so sure. “No, because I have the right to vote so I can make a difference,” he said. “They say if voting was like a soccer game, Trump wouldn’t win because we would all come vote and come together. That’s what soccer does.”