Homophobic chant heard at Mexico's World Cup match vs Czechia

During the Group A match between Mexico and Czechia at the Azteca stadium on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, fans erupted in a homophobic chant as Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar prepared a goal kick. The slur, which translates to ‘male prostitute’ in Spanish, echoed through the venue. The chant has previously triggered fines from FIFA that have cost Mexico hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those sanctions were imposed after earlier incidents involving the same slur. The insult originated roughly 25 years ago and is traditionally used to intimidate goalkeepers during goal kicks. Its usage has spread across Latin American fan cultures.

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The chant went viral during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and resurfaced in Russia at the 2018 World Cup. It appeared again in Qatar four years later, continuing its presence on the world stage. The Mexican soccer federation has repeatedly tried to curb the chant, yet it persists among supporters despite official efforts. No new measures were announced ahead of the match.

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Mexico entered the game as Group A winners, already secured a place in the knockout phase. The team was set to face the Czech Republic in the next round.