Andrea Bocelli and South Korean singer EJAE perform during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026.AP/YONHAP
Carlos Peñafiel Soto
The author is the Ambassador of Mexico to South Korea
In an increasingly divided world, football remains one of the few truly and most valuable universal languages. Across cultures and continents, this sport creates connections that transcend geographies, politics and languages. It inspires strangers to become friends and reminds us that the ties between us can flourish through a common passion and shared experiences.
In Mexico, football occupies an essential place in our day-to-day life, deeply connected with our cultural identity. From packed stadiums in major cities to neighborhood street matches where children gather after school, soccer unites generations and local communities in a collective expression of pride and belonging. I witnessed this personally while growing up in the state of Querétaro. Over the years, football has played an important role in the region’s social cohesion and cultural development. Beyond entertainment, sport has encouraged youth participation and contributed to local economic activity. For many residents, our local football club represents not only a team, but also a source of civic identity.
This experience is hardly unique to my hometown. Throughout Mexico, football often serves as a bridge between people of different backgrounds and perspectives. In many ways, the same can be said of Korea, where football has likewise become a powerful expression of national pride, unity and discipline.
This shared passion gains particular significance as Mexico co-hosts the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside the United States and Canada. Having previously hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986, Mexico understands the extraordinary power of football as an inspiration across borders. In 2026, our country will once again welcome athletes, supporters and visitors from around the world. For Mexico, hosting represents much more than organizing a mega-sporting event; our national focus is to provide a safe, orderly and inclusive World Cup with a strong social legacy rooted in equality, nondiscrimination and universal access to public spaces. As our president, Claudia Sheinbaum, noted, Mexico will show the world a great country with a rich cultural heritage and hardworking people.
Equally important, the tournament offers an opportunity to deepen international partnerships and strengthen cultural exchanges with Korea. Beyond the matches themselves, the World Cup serves as a platform to encourage youth engagement and closer people-to-people ties. When Mexico and Korea meet on the football pitch this tournament, it will represent far more than ninety minutes of fair competition ― it will reflect a relationship that has grown over the past six decades.
Unexpectedly, football has become a highly visible element of the friendship between our two nations. The 1986 World Cup in Mexico marked an important milestone, with Korea participating as one of Asia’s representatives. While the two teams did not play each other, the event allowed Korean fans to experience firsthand the passion that defines Latin American football. Twelve years later, our nations faced off at the 1998 World Cup in France, a memorable, intense match in Lyon where Mexico came from behind to secure a victory. This football relationship reached an even greater dimension during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when the destinies of both teams became intertwined, and Mexico advanced to the knockout stage thanks to Korea's unforgettable victory over Germany.
While these may appear to be minor moments in sporting history, for Mexico and Korea they are part of a shared narrative that proves sport's ability to build lasting connections. I am confident that our friendship will remain strong regardless of the winner of this latest iteration of our epic rivalry.
Mexico’s ultimate hope is for the FIFA World Cup 2026 to leave behind more than unforgettable goals. The greater aspiration is a legacy of friendship, cooperation, and peace. At a time when international tensions dominate global headlines, football reminds us that mutual understanding can still emerge through people-to-people contacts. It cannot solve every global challenge, but it can foster empathy, respect, and dialogue in ways traditional diplomacy sometimes falls short. As the world prepares to enjoy this year’s World Cup, the story of Mexico and Korea reminds us that football is far more than just the “beautiful game;” it is a force capable of bringing people closer together and reaffirming our shared humanity.
