FIFA faces pressure to discipline 2026 World Cup co-host Mexico after anti-gay chant returns vs Czechia

An anti-gay slur that has been chanted by Mexico fans could pb to subject from FIFA for the squad of 1 of the big countries successful the 2026 World Cup.

There were astatine slightest 3 instances during Mexico’s 3-0 triumph implicit Czechia connected Wednesday nighttime wherever the anti-gay slur was chanted by fans.

This circumstantial chant has caused stoppages successful play during past matches, and has adjacent led to fines for Mexico. However, officials allowed play to proceed contempt it being heard passim the crowd.

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Mexican fans clasp letters spelling "Mexico" portion cheering during the 2026 World Cup Group A lucifer betwixt the Czech Republic and Mexico astatine Mexico City Stadium successful Mexico City connected June 24, 2026. (Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images)

The chant is directed astatine the opposing goalkeeper, and though FIFA has tried to get the fans to stop, it made its instrumentality connected Wednesday night.

Now, it’s up to FIFA to effort to perchance subject Mexico again amid a coagulated commencement to its tournament.

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During the 2018 World Cup, FIFA showed it would subject a state for its fans’ actions. It was Mexico they made an illustration of, arsenic fans performed the aforesaid chant during a triumph implicit Germany. The squad was yet fined by FIFA for the chant.

The subject worked, astatine slightest successful the abbreviated term. In Mexico’s adjacent lucifer against South Korea that year, the chant wasn’t used. However, during the 2019 Gold Cup, the chant returned, and fans were urged to stop.

Alvaro Fidalgo of Mexico celebrates scoring his team's 3rd extremity during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A lucifer against Czechia astatine Mexico City Stadium connected June 24, 2026. (Lars Baron/Getty Images)

CONCACAF stepped in, releasing a connection that called the chant "offensive," but it returned during the team’s lucifer against the United States. Mexico ended up winning the Gold Cup that year, but FIFA moved rapidly to update its disciplinary code, wherever officials present had a three-step process to respond to "discriminatory incidents."

That process started with stopping play until chants stopped, and if that didn’t help, the crippled would beryllium suspended. Then, if it reaches level three, the lucifer would beryllium abandoned altogether.

The Mexican Football Federation besides tried stopping the chants themselves. In 2021, the shot enactment posted 2 videos, 1 calling the chant "discriminatory," portion the different showed salient Mexican players telling fans not to usage the chant moving forward. The messages besides threatened ejection for those who start, oregon engage, successful the chant.

Javier Aguirre, caput manager of Mexico, looks connected earlier the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A lucifer betwixt Mexico and Korea Republic astatine Guadalajara Stadium successful Zapopan, Mexico, connected June 18, 2026. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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Despite each the attempts, it’s wide Mexico’s instrumentality basal doesn’t privation to listen. So, the shot is successful FIFA’s tribunal erstwhile again to spot if it volition subject the team.

The Mexican Football Federation was antecedently fined $65,000 by FIFA, portion the squad was forced to play 2 World Cup qualifier matches successful an bare stadium.

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