Mexican Supporters Disturb Ecuador's Sleep Before World Cup Match
July 2, 2026 · Global
Mexican fans disturbed the Ecuadorian team's sleep ahead of a World Cup match, prompting an official complaint from the Ecuadorian football federation.
Mexican football fans are going out of their way to give Ecuador an uncomfortable night ahead of their World Cup round of 32 tie on Tuesday. From midnight to early morning, dozens of fans gathered in front of the Westin Hotel in Santa Fe, an elite area on the outskirts of the capital, using loudspeakers, horns and motorbikes to disturb the visiting team's rest.
The tradition of serenading at team hotels is a deep-rooted and highly controversial practice in Latin American football. While it initially started as a passionate way for supporters to support the home team, the practice has increasingly developed into a psychological weapon designed to deprive visiting players of quality sleep. Following the incident in Mexico City, the Ecuadorian football federation (FEF) announced on Tuesday that it had filed an official complaint with the organizers.
"This kind of behavior is completely contrary to the principles of fair play, equality and unity that must be upheld in a World Cup," the FEF said in a statement. "The FEF respectfully requests that the competent authorities pay closer attention to these incidents and take the necessary steps to safeguard the safety of our players, coaching staff and supporters."
The supporters' attacks, which were organized through social media, added to the chaos when Ecuador arrived. The disruption capped a troublesome logistical journey for the South American team, who had planned an unannounced arrival on Monday evening to lessen the impact of Mexico City's 2,200 meter high altitude. To overcome the physiological impact of thin air, sports scientists generally recommend two different approaches: an extended acclimatization period of at least two weeks, or the “fly-in, fly-out” method — arriving as close to kick-off as possible before acute symptoms appear. This is the method used by teams in major sports leagues in the United States when they come to play in Mexico City.
However, Ecuador's trip from Columbus, Ohio, was hampered from the start. Ecuador's coach, Sebastián Beccacece, complained that their flight was more than three hours late, although he did not specify whether he had taken into account the two-hour time difference between the two cities. "The flight delay, then the trip to the hotel — it all ended up being a nine-hour trip; we took three hours longer than scheduled," Beccacece said. "But the team is in good shape and in good spirits — of course facing opponents who have recorded good results in the group phase."
Additionally, the Ecuadorian team landed at Felipe Ángeles International Airport, located 65 kilometers from their hotel. Players will have to navigate their way to Santa Fe through Mexico City's notorious traffic jams, which were made even worse on Monday by heavy rain overnight.