MEXICO CITY — After a few months in which it was heard only sporadically at local tournaments across Mexico, a homophobic chant has resurfaced strongly in recent weeks in what could be a prelude to what will happen at the 2026 World Cup.
The slur has been an unwelcome feature at matches involving Mexico and its fervent fans for two decades, though it is not limited to El Tri. It has drawn widespread condemnation and sanctions, and punishments by FIFA could very well be levied during the World Cup, which would be an embarrassment to co-host Mexico.
FIFA has partnered with the Fare Network to send observers to all World Cup games to listen for discrimination in chants and banners across all countries and cultures.
Soccer’s governing bodies have struggled for decades to eliminate racial abuse despite heavy fines, stadium closures, points deductions, halted matches and bans for both fans and players who break the rules. European and Latin American nations have been repeatedly fined and Mexico currently has appeals against FIFA punishment over a 2024 match against the U.S. pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The chant, a one-word slur that literally means male prostitute in Spanish, usually occurs when the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick. It went viral in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was heard again in Russia during the 2018 World Cup and four years later in Qatar.
