Anti-gay chants from Mexican fans could potentially trigger disciplinary measures from FIFA regarding one of the teams hosting the 2026 World Cup. During Mexico’s recent match, which they won 3-0 against the Czech Republic, these slurs were shouted on at least three occasions.
This kind of chant has previously led to play being halted and fines for Mexico. Yet, despite the noise echoing in the stadium, officials allowed the game to proceed as usual. It’s a bit perplexing, considering FIFA’s past focus on fan behavior.
The chants were aimed specifically at the Czech goalkeeper, and though FIFA attempted to dissuade the crowd, these chants returned on Wednesday night. With the tournament now underway, it leaves FIFA in a tricky position about whether to punish Mexico again.
Looking back at the 2018 World Cup, FIFA had signaled intentions to crack down on such behavior after Mexico fans used similar slurs during their game against Germany, resulting in fines. Surprisingly, these chants ceased during Mexico’s next match with South Korea. However, they reemerged in the Gold Cup not long after, despite calls for their discontinuation.
Recently, CONCACAF referred to the chants as “offensive,” alluding to the ongoing efforts to quash discrimination in sports. After Mexico’s Gold Cup win that year, FIFA swiftly revised its disciplinary procedures, introducing a three-step program to handle discriminatory incidents effectively. This system begins with a temporary stoppage of play if discriminatory chants are heard, potentially escalating to a complete match suspension.
In response, the Mexican Football Federation has also taken steps to combat this behavior. Back in 2021, they released videos labeling the chant “discriminatory,” featuring a notable player urging fans not to participate and warning about ejection for offenders. Still, despite these efforts, the persistence of the chant suggests a disconnect that remains challenging to bridge.
Ultimately, it seems the onus is back on FIFA to decide how to proceed. Mexico has faced significant penalties in the past, including fines and having to play qualifying matches in empty stadiums. Whether such actions will be revisited remains to be seen.
