6,000 pack KC Power and Light District for Mexico vs England match Sunday night

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mexico supporters packed KC Live! Sunday night in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, to cheer on their team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With the district packed to its 6,000-person capacity, fans cheered Mexico on in a thrilling match against England, only to eventually come up short 3–2.

The atmosphere inside left little doubt about where the crowd's loyalties stood.

"This is really like being in Mexico right now," said watch party attendee Silvano Vargas.

For many in attendance, the stakes went beyond a single match. Mexico's last appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal was in 1986 — a 40-year drought that fans hoped would end Sunday night.

Will Shaw/KSHB

Younger fans understood the weight of the moment.

"It's the first time in a long time since Mexico has been this far," Eitan Reyes said. "So we can prove everybody wrong — that we're not just a small country, but we're bigger than who we are."

England fans were a rare sight in the crowd. One supporter, Philip Peson, acknowledged the energy surrounding him.

Will Shaw/KSHB

"Those guys are supportive," Peson said. "You feel passion from them. Tough game."

England's base camp is located in Kansas City, and even Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas felt the pull of the crowd.

Lucas drew cheers when he declared, "Viva... Viva Kansas City!" to kick off the watch party.

Ryan Gamboa/KSHB

For many, the significance of the night extended beyond the scoreline. Representation and the merging of cultures were themes that resonated throughout the watch party.

"I love how people show out with what this culture is," Reyes said.

Will Shaw/KSHB

The match featured plenty of drama on both sides, including a penalty kick goal from England's Harry Kane, along with multiple opportunities for Mexico to answer before the final whistle.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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