Mexican soccer fans orchestrated a disruptive overnight campaign outside the Ecuadorian team’s hotel, aiming to deprive them of sleep ahead of their World Cup round of 32 match on Tuesday. From midnight into the early hours, dozens of supporters gathered outside the Westin Hotel in Santa Fe, an upscale district on the outskirts of Mexico City, employing loudspeakers, horns, and motorcycles to disturb the visiting squad’s rest.
This tactic, known as a “team hotel serenade,” is a deeply ingrained yet polarizing tradition in Latin American soccer. While initially a passionate display of support for home teams, it has increasingly evolved into a psychological weapon designed to undermine visiting players by robbing them of a good night’s sleep.
While initially a passionate display of support for home teams, it has increasingly evolved into a psychological weapon (Getty Images)
Following these incidents, the Ecuadorian soccer federation (FEF) announced on Tuesday that it has filed a formal complaint with tournament organizers. “Such conduct stands in stark contrast to the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a World Cup should embody,” the FEF stated. “The FEF respectfully calls upon the competent authorities to pay greater attention to these events and to adopt the necessary measures to safeguard the safety of our players, coaching staff, and fans.”
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The fan ambush, reportedly organized via social media, compounded what was already a chaotic arrival for Ecuador. This disruption capped off a grueling logistical ordeal for the South American team, which had deliberately planned a last-minute Monday night arrival to mitigate the effects of Mexico City’s challenging 2,200-meter (7,300-foot) altitude.
Sports scientists typically recommend either an extended acclimatization period of at least two weeks or a “fly-in, fly-out” approach, arriving as close to kickoff as possible to avoid acute symptoms of thin air. This latter method is commonly adopted by major US sports leagues when competing in Mexico City.
The fan ambush, reportedly organized via social media, compounded what was already a chaotic arrival for Ecuador (Getty Images)
However, Ecuador’s journey from Columbus, Ohio, was plagued by delays from the outset. Coach Sebastián Beccacece complained that their flight was delayed by more than three hours, though he did not specify whether the two-hour time difference between the cities was factored into his assessment.
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“A flight delay, then the transfer to the hotel — it ended up being a nine-hour journey; we took three hours longer than scheduled,” Beccacece said. “But the team is doing well and is excited — obviously facing an opponent that posted good results in the group stage.”
Adding to their woes, the team landed at Felipe Ángeles International Airport, located 65 kilometers (41 miles) from their hotel. The squad was then forced to navigate Mexico City’s notoriously heavy traffic, which was further exacerbated by heavy night rain on Monday, for the trek to Santa Fe.
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