MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� The Mexican dream at this can be summed up in a phrase: 鈥淎nd what if we do?鈥�
The question omits the ending 鈥� and what if we do win? 鈥� but captures the hope of two generations of Mexicans and have waited 40 years to see their national team make it to the quarterfinals, something that could happen on Sunday if it beats England.
The phrase 鈥� 鈥溌縔 si s铆?鈥� in Spanish 鈥� is also a chant repeated by millions of young people who now have something to believe in, unite them and fill them with excitement: a revamped team that has surprised them since the start of the tournament and remains undefeated without conceding a goal.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already broken the curse,鈥� says Eli谩n Gonz谩lez, a 22-year-old nursing student.
鈥淭his team has given us so much hope. There are so many young players, that鈥檚 what has given us a boost and what can take us to the final,鈥� said the young woman from a suburb of the capital, whose mother instilled in her a passion for soccer.
Analysts don’t have high expectations for Mexico to make it to the final, but fans dare to ask: What if they can?
Playing at home is key
On Sunday, Mexicans are ready to celebrate again in the match against England, where Mexico can match its best-ever result: from the 1986 and 1970 World Cups, both held on home soil.
Mexico’s history of victories at Estadio Azteca is in its favor, as is the city鈥檚 altitude of over 2,200 meters (7,200 feet).
The English team knows it and has another concern: its opponent’s fans. England has tried to keep secret its base hotel to prevent Mexican supporters from repeating the unbearable serenade they gave Ecuador the night before that match. Some English fans have said on social media that they fear Mexico more than Brazil.
While memes are multiplying, pitting iconic figures from each country against each other 鈥� Cantinflas versus James Bond, Freddie Mercury versus Juan Gabriel 鈥� and bands like Oasis and Man谩 have started their predictions, Mexico fans haven鈥檛 stopped celebrating since the team’s victory in the .
Some might think the viral videos showing the Mexican euphoria are made by artificial intelligence, says David C谩vita, 26, but no. 鈥淗ere, they can make anything fly,鈥� he said, referring to the trend of fans being tossed into the air and then caught by the crowd.
鈥淭he vibe here … I鈥檝e never felt anything like it, never in my life, for anything,鈥� says his friend, Esteban Bautista, 21, an engineering student. 鈥淲e can have the best World Cup ever at home.鈥�
Mexico and the World Cup: an 鈥榦verflowing infatuation鈥�
The power of soccer to unite and inspire is well known, but some believe that in Mexico it goes even further.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e seeing is like a passionate, overflowing infatuation,鈥� especially among young people who want to feel part of something, leave their frustrations behind, and are supporting a team marked by youth, explains Carlos Cruz, 54, founder of a nonprofit that works with teenagers and now a city official.
Mexico has , and a naturalized Mexican citizen from a region of Colombia known for drug violence and poverty, Juli谩n Qui帽ones, both symbols for many, says Cruz.
鈥淢ora is the one who gave us that hope that Mexicans can achieve anything they want,鈥� says Areli Navarrete, a teenager who only recently became interested in football.
鈥淲e have a team that has played with passion 鈥� and we are eager, anxious, desperate for something to celebrate,鈥� said Omar Guti茅rrez, a 46-year-old market analyst who played in the youth ranks of several Mexican teams.
Taking to the streets
Despite the when more than a million people took to the streets to celebrate Mexico鈥檚 victory against Ecuador Tuesday, no one doubts that the capital鈥檚 center will be even more crowded on Sunday.
Francisco Guerra鈥檚 sons, the 15-year-old triplets Patricio, Jer贸nimo, and Juan Pablo, have watched three games live, wearing the jerseys of their second-favorite national teams, such as Germany and England, although the latter 鈥� Patricio jokes 鈥� might end up burned on Sunday. The family has strong ties with an English family with whom they share a chat group that is currently muted.
They dream of going to the Angel of Independence 鈥� the iconic location for the celebrations 鈥� to see Sunday鈥檚 game. Their father is reluctant, although Mexico City has
Joshua Zayas, 19, will definitely go. He says all it takes is a little caution. 鈥淲e鈥檒l buy foam, jump around, dance and de-stress, especially now that we just finished the semester at university. It鈥檚 really nice to see how we can come together.鈥�
And if Mexico doesn鈥檛 win?
鈥淲e鈥檒l be incredibly depressed, and who knows how we鈥檒l react,鈥� Zayas said. 鈥淏ut let鈥檚 hope they do advance.鈥�
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