, Mexico’s team beat South Korea 1-0, securing the top spot in Group A of the 2026 USA–Canada–Mexico World Cup in advance, and becoming the first team in this tournament to advance to the knockout stage (the Round of 32). Hundreds of kilometers away from the Guadalajara Stadium, in a fan viewing area in Mexico City, a reporter witnessed this crucial win alongside thousands of fans during a sudden downpour, and also saw the passion and power that football stirs on this land.

In Mexico City, the World Cup isn’t only about the stadium.

As match day approaches, TVs in restaurants fill up with men, women, and children dressed in green jerseys; street vendors set up their display screens at the roadside, doing business while keeping an eye on the game; even gas station staff stubbornly connect palm-sized screens to receive live broadcast signals. Football is an indispensable spiritual staple for this city.

For many fans who cannot be there in person, the official viewing areas—18 in total across the city—are the most direct way to feel the World Cup atmosphere. Here, no tickets are needed; one large screen is enough to bring together thousands of hearts beating for football.

As night falls, the reporter arrives at a viewing area to watch Mexico take on South Korea. Right as the match reaches the 35th minute, the sky suddenly drops an intense, torrential rain. Plateau rain