At the BMO stage, fans of the women’s team protested Angel City and the supporters of the Los Angeles FC against Trump’s politics.
Photo: Imago/Kelvin whatever
The Ultras of Los Angeles FC are considered creative, loud and passionate in the USA. A week ago, however, they followed the home game of their footballers against Kansas City without chants, drums and pyrotechnics. They were so stubborn that occasional Huster could be heard in the stadium. Instead, fans turned with banners against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the United States immigration and customs authority. “Abolish ICE” was written on a poster. Another slogan: “If injustice becomes the law, resistance becomes a duty.”
The management of the LAFC, probably the most popular football club on the west coast, also spoke up with a statement. “Today, since a lot of fear and uncertainty feel in our city, the LAFC shoulder stands on shoulder with all members of our community.”
Consequences for the new club World Cup
Both were reactions to the tightened immigration policy of the US government. Because Ice also carried out raids in Los Angeles and took migrants into custody. Peaceful protests followed. Nevertheless, President Donald Trump sent 2000 soldiers from the National Guard to the city – against the will of the California governor Gavin Newsom. The political atmosphere is likely to remain charged – and that would also have consequences for football. In the coming weeks, the new club World Cup will also be a guest in Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles.
The immigration authority announced the presence of employees at the tournament, with the indication that “all non-US citizens must provide proof of their legal status”. Steps like this were also commented on by LAFC players. “It is important that we don’t retire to our corners and be afraid,” said striker Jeremy Ebobisse.
Stadium as a place of diversity
Around half of Los Angeles residents have roots in Mexico or other Hispanic countries. Above average many of them live in Downtown, where the protests escaped. The LAFC, who lost his first game in Atlanta against Chelsea London on Monday evening at the club World Cup, is at home in LA in the BMO Stadium, a few minutes by car from Downtown. So if there is a place where the variety of Latinos becomes visible and audible, then it is the stadium of the Los Angeles FC. Traders also offer flags and scarves in the Mexican colors. And the ultras of the LAFC call “Viva Los Angeles” and “Vamos” – “Let’s go”.
“Mexican immigrants have been coming to the United States for decades because they hope for better working conditions,” says Mike Woitalla, editor-in-chief of the online medium Soccer America. »But you continue to feel connected to your home. You can live these emotions in football. «This applies to the Major League Soccer MLS, the highest US soccer league, and especially for international matches. The Mexican Football Association always rents stadiums in the USA for its national team’s friendly games, where many Latino’s life.
Many in common
In football, the United States and Mexico have long been a common market. Clubs from both countries meet for test tournaments in summer. The league, which achieves the highest ratings in the United States, is not the MLS or the English Premier League, but the Mexican Professional League MX. The Mexican Football Association achieves a third of its annual income in the United States: through transmission rights, sponsors or ticket sales. In this environment, the next football world champion scahft, which will be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026, was considered as a level of development of a lucrative business.
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In the Trump era, however, this difficult network could reach limits. An example: On Saturday, the Gold Cup was opened in the Sofi Stadium of Los Angeles, one of the most important national tournaments in North and Central America. The Mexican national team won 3-2 against the Dominican Republic. In the past three games in this stadium, the Mexican selection recorded an average of 64,000 spectators. This time 54,000 came. In times of raids and protests, many fans of Mexican origin let their tickets fall. Apparently, many immigrants also have concerns without a residence status to be arrested in a well -guarded environment. Groups demonstrated against the immigration authority in front of the stadium.
There is no clear criticism of Trump from the official side, associations or leading national players from the USA or Mexico. That was different in 2016 after his first election as President. At that time, both teams appeared for a common photo before their World Cup qualification game in Columbus. Will there be similar pictures at the club World Cup or next year at the World Cup?
Fight for the favor of the Latinos in La
The influence of Latinos in US football has grown steadily over decades. The Immigration Act in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson made migration from the south easier. Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans came to the States, they brought their religion and hobbies with them, including football. “The migrants had to work hard and experienced racism early on,” says US Mexican sociologist José Alamillo. “During sports, they were able to make contacts and talk about their domestic traditions.”
In the Major League Soccer, which was introduced in 1996, the clubs from Los Angeles – La Galaxy and the LAFC – also try for the favor of the Latinos. And that also applies to the third and youngest professional association in Los Angeles, for Angel City, a member of the National Women’s Soccer League since 2022. “If you want to build confidence in the communities, then you have to be there,” says Nicole Moreno, who has built up the Outreach program at Angel City, i.e. measures to arouse interest in the entire urban area. “It is not enough to just call or send circular emails.”
Angel City invites Mexican influencers to the home games of his footballers and organizes events in the east of LA, where many Latino’s life. The association also plays test games against the Mexican national team, the “Copa Angelina”. This is also a social network that is particularly challenged in times of US President Trump. Angel City played against North Carolina Courage on Saturday. The players showed themselves in special T-shirts. Then the message: “Immigrant City Football Club”.
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