Supporter Groups Withdraw Amid Immigration Crackdown
The Mexico men’s national soccer team has long drawn massive crowds across the United States, especially in Los Angeles, where the atmosphere of El Tri matches often rivals that of games played on home soil. But on June 14, a striking shift occurred. Amid growing fears over immigration enforcement, nearly 10,000 fewer fans attended Mexico’s match against the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium, highlighting a sharp and troubling divide between the team and its U.S.-based supporters.
In past appearances at the same venue, Mexico routinely attracted crowds exceeding 63,000. The June 14 match, part of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, saw only 54,309 fans in attendance. The drop coincided with intensifying immigration enforcement actions under the Trump administration, as well as online rumors and social media posts suggesting the presence of ICE agents at stadiums.
Supporters say the effect has been chilling.
Supporter Groups Step Back in Protest and Fear
Several of Mexico’s largest U.S.-based supporter groups, including Cielito Lindo, Pancho Villa’s Army, and Patrones de México, chose not to attend the game. They also canceled their traditional pregame tailgate events, a staple of the fan experience that brings thousands together before kickoff.
“It just didn’t feel like our place was in the stadium,” said Paco Rubén, founder of Cielito Lindo. “Most of our people were either going to be at the protest or staying at home, clearly in fear.”
The decision was not made lightly. For many fans, national team games are more than sporting events. They are moments of cultural connection, celebration, and family. Yet with heightened immigration activity in Southern California and fears of federal agents at public events, even longtime attendees reconsidered.
Cielito Lindo co-coordinator Livette Ruvalcaba explained that skipping the match was emotionally difficult. “Our soccer heart wanted to be there,” she said. “But we couldn’t celebrate knowing so many of our community members felt unsafe.”
Reduced Attendance Reflects Deepening Anxiety
Ticket prices for the June 14 game plummeted in the hours before kickoff. What had been $75 tickets were selling for less than $30 on resale platforms. Parts of the upper deck at SoFi Stadium sat empty. The atmosphere, fans said, lacked the usual energy.
Luis Espinosa, founder of fan channel Sigo al Tri, noted a “cold atmosphere” and visible absence of regular supporters. “People were afraid. That’s the reality.”
The concern grew further when a now-deleted post from U.S. Customs and Border Protection promised agents would be “suited and booted” for the FIFA Club World Cup. Though the Department of Homeland Security later denied ICE involvement in recent incidents outside venues, the damage had been done.
One day before the match, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly urged U.S. authorities not to target attendees. Still, the fear persisted. And not all criticism was directed at U.S. institutions. When asked about the immigration issue, Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre said, “I’m not a spokesperson for Mexicans. I’m the coach of the Mexican national team.”
Ruvalcaba called those comments the final trigger for the group’s withdrawal. “We’ve always been there. We do everything to be there,” she said. “But hearing those words… it broke our hearts.”
Looking Ahead to 2026 With Uncertainty
With less than a year until the 2026 World Cup kicks off — a tournament Mexico will co-host with the U.S. and Canada — the strained relationship between Mexican fans in the U.S. and both governments casts a long shadow.
Cielito Lindo has announced it will not attend the remaining Gold Cup fixtures. Plans for upcoming trips to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Texas were canceled despite prior travel and lodging arrangements.
“Our friends told us, ‘I can’t even go out of my house right now,’” said Rubén.
The concern isn’t just for this summer. According to Espinosa, fears about documentation and safety could deter fans from attending World Cup matches, even those on U.S. soil intended to be celebrations of unity and sport.
“We wish with all our strength that there is no violence,” he said. “Don’t endanger our compatriots or the friends we have in the U.S.”
The June 14 game ended with a 3-2 victory for Mexico, thanks to goals from Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez, and César Montes. But the result on the field was overshadowed by the visible absence of some of the team’s most passionate supporters — a silence that could echo into the most important tournament of the decade.