Clasico de Mexico shows Houston is ready for World Cup
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- October 14, 2024
A record crowd attends Clasico de Mexico
HOUSTON – Dressed in the red and white stripes of Chivas de Guadalajara, a girl played with a goat doll as her family waited for El Clasico de Mexico. A few feet away Sunday afternoon, a boy in Club America’s gold jersey screamed in hopes of catching the Aguilas’ attention.
The seats in the south end zone were packed with loud, rowdy Chivas fans in red-and-white striped jerseys. The opposite end zone at NRG Stadium was packed with gold-clad Club America fans. Those fans were just as loud, rowdy.
At times they were somewhat vulgar. It was an international soccer match, after all. If you want to show how the fourth largest city in America is ready for the 2026 World Cup, the atmosphere at the Clasico de Mexico at NRG Stadium is a perfect example. PRIMETIME Sports and Lone Star Sports and Entertainment delivered a classic worthy of Mexico City’s renowned Azteca Stadium.
Record Texas crowd for Clasico de Mexico
America won 2-0. The score for this unfriendly friendly match doesn’t convey the magnitude of what transpired at NRG Stadium. The crowd of 54,117 was the largest to witness a match between two Liga MX clubs in Texas.
The crowd size was even more impressive considering the loyal fans of North America’s two most popular teams knew top players would be away on international soccer duty. Yet, the Clasico de Mexico is always a draw, whether it’s played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara or NRG Stadium in Houston.
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That duel is such an important match, the Clasico de Mexico held in the U.S. is broadcast live nationally on Telemundo and Univision. The two largest Spanish-language networks in the U.S. don’t broadcast any other soccer match live when the other has broadcast rights.
“It was a great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month 2024,” said John Hernandez, the vice chairman of Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. “It was an incredible Texans victory (on the road) and a fantastic Mexican friendly with over 54,117 jubilant fans.”
Special rivalry
The crowd left some wondering if that environment can be replicated in other parts of Houston. Gilbert A. Herrera would love to bring that type of crowd downtown. He’s on the board of the Houston Downtown Management District.
“We should be doing more events like this downtown,” Herrera said. “Houston needs to do a better job of conveying the value proposition for your entertainment dollars downtown.”
The Clasico de Mexico is a special rivalry. It’s similar to the hatred between the Yankees and Red Sox. Some have compared it to the rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics.
Houston is more than 50 percent Latino. Moreover, it established itself as one of the best soccer cities in the United States long ago. FIFA and the 2026 World Cup Committee clearly agreed. Houston will hold seven matches for the 2026 World Cup.
El Clasico de Mexico reminded us that Houston is ready for the 2026 World Cup.
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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