MEXICO CITY — Long before the opening whistle, Colombia’s World Cup fans had already claimed Mexico City as their own. Thousands of yellow-clad supporters packed the streets and restaurants of the capital on June 17, transforming the Mexican metropolis into a lively extension of South America.
Colombian fans dressed in their national team colors filled dining spots throughout the city, enjoying traditional dishes like Bandeja Paisa, sausages, eggs, beans, and empanadas while singing and building excitement for what turned out to be a commanding 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in Group K at the Estadio Azteca.
At a Latin American food hall in the Roma neighborhood called Comedor de los Milagros — which translates to “Dining Room of Miracles” — the energy surged even higher when Colombian music star Carlos Vives made an unexpected appearance. Fans erupted in applause, treating his arrival as a sign of good things to come.
The venue, which describes itself as a “House of Latinos” and features bold colors, murals, and Catholic-inspired artwork, felt more like a Colombian fan club headquarters than a restaurant on match day.
For Pablo Calderon, who made the trip from Medellin with his brother, the experience blended passion with financial reality. “Mexico is more of a football country, but we are going to the United States too,” he said. “We wanted to follow Colombia through the group stage, but everything is too expensive. Our ticket alone cost around $1,000.”
His brother Ricardo Calderon pointed to a deeper cultural bond between the two nations. “There is common ground between Mexicans and Colombians,” he said. “We like football, music, food and noise. That is why we feel good here.”
Inside the Azteca, Colombia’s yellow-shirted supporters dominated the seating areas, giving the stadium an atmosphere that felt far more like a home venue than a neutral one.
On the field, Daniel Munoz put Colombia ahead in the 40th minute, finishing off a pass from Luis Diaz. Uzbekistan briefly tied things up when Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored his first-ever World Cup goal, but Diaz and Jaminton Campaz both found the net to close out the 3-1 victory.
Colombian restaurants in the city also felt the surge of excitement. Andrea, manager of SalchiParce — a spot with a strong social media following — called her establishment “the most Colombian house in Mexico.”
“Yesterday and today we have seen a lot of Colombians here, although not only Colombians, Mexicans too,” she said. “We are interested in making them feel at home, with a big enough plate of food and some authentic Colombian beer.”
When the final whistle blew, there was little doubt: for one night, Mexico City belonged to Colombia.
