Oaxaca and Oaxaqueñ@s have gone all in showing their support for El Tri, Mexico’s World Cup team. The state government is providing covered outdoor viewing — with live transmissions of all games on giant screens in Parque Primavera Oaxaqueña Cho ndobá, Parque El Llano, Plaza de la Danza, and the Alameda de León in the city and in several other locations throughout the state. A fantastical mural on Calzada de la República by Bouler was commissioned to celebrate El Tri.
I’ve been watching the games from the comfort of my living room sofa until last night, when gal pal T and I arranged to rendezvous at Parque El Llano. The fun began as I walked over to the park. Fans, identified by their green jerseys, in cars, motorcycles, and on foot, were streaming toward the park to cheer on El Tri.
By the time we arrived, surprise, surprise, the viewing area was standing room only.
Fans of all ages filled the seating area.
After standing, getting blocked, and craning our necks to try to see the action on the big screen, we went in search of a local bar with available seats and a visible TV screen — which we quickly found. In the words of our generation, we had a blast rooting for Mexico along with locals, honoring Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo (Memo) Ochoa on his 6th and final World Cup appearance, and cheering El Tri’s third group stage victory!
Along with the escape and joyous celebrations sport affords us, the walls of Oaxaca also never cease reminding us that behind the bread and circuses, serious issues are waiting in the wings.
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