“Worth Every Dollar”: Fans Who Came to the World Cup Aren’t Deterred by the Prices | Special Report

While Mexico City had not yet fully been draped in World Cup colors, in Plaza El Ángel de la Independencia, the place where Mexicans celebrate victories and any other good reason for national pride, it was already possible to meet those who had come from far away to be part of the festivities. José Macías, a Mexican who was born and raised in the country and now lives in the United States, came with his wife and children במיוחד for the opening match. For him, this is his fifth World Cup, “but the first at home, and this is my most exciting World Cup,” he says. “I was born and raised here, and now I get to watch the World Cup in my country. I’m happy to welcome everyone who comes from other countries to visit Mexico. We already feel the atmosphere, you can feel the vibe, we’re almost there.”

The prices, by the way, did not really deter him. Macías paid $2,300 for each ticket to the opening match, and in total bought five tickets. “It’s a lot of money,” he smiles. “But this is my first World Cup in Mexico, so for me it’s worth every dollar.” He also did not miss the teachers’ protests that have accompanied the preparations. “We’ve had a few problems, mainly the teachers’ strike, but I hope they reach an agreement and we can move forward from there,” he says. As for who will win the title, he points to France or Spain, but quickly warns not to write off the home team. “If we win the group, we can go far. In Mexico there’s no such thing as a free ride. Every 90 minutes here matters.”

Not far from him, in the same square, we met Angelito, a 24-year-old fan from Costa Rica, who came to Mexico City to soak up the atmosphere, even though his team did not qualify for the tournament this time. He wandered around the square wearing a shirt of the Brazilian Rodrygo, and did not hide his excitement. “I feel grateful that I get to experience a World Cup in the host country,” he says. “I thought it was something I would never get to experience, and suddenly they brought it here, to Latin America, to the capital of Latin America. I’m simply happy. I would like Brazil to win, but it’s very complicated,” he says. “I’m not really optimistic.”