Table of Contents
Mexican soccer fans did their best to give Ecuador a sleepless night ahead of their World Cup match in the round of 32 later Tuesday.
From midnight until the early hours of the morning, dozens of fans gathered outside the Westin Hotel in Santa Fe, an upscale area on the outskirts of the capital, using loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles to disturb the visiting team’s rest.
Team hotel serenades are a deeply entrenched, highly polarizing tradition in Latin American soccer. While they began as a passionate way for fans to rally behind the home team, they have increasingly evolved into a psychological weapon designed to rob visiting players of a good night’s sleep.
After the incidents in Mexico City, the Ecuadorian soccer federation said Tuesday it has filed a formal complaint with organizers.
"Such conduct stands in stark contrast to the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a World Cup should embody," the federation, known as FEF, said in a statement. "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."
The fan ambush, organized on social media, added to a chaotic arrival for Ecuador. The disruption capped off a grueling logistical nightmare for the South American team, which had deliberately planned a last-minute Monday night arrival to mitigate the effects of Mexico City’s 2,200-meter (7,300-foot) altitude.
To combat the physiological toll of thin air, sports scientists generally recommend two contrasting approaches: an extended acclimatization period of at least two weeks, or the "fly-in, fly-out" method — arriving as close to kick off as possible before acute symptoms set in.
That is the route that teams in the major sports leagues in the United States use when they come to play in Mexico City.
But Ecuador’s journey from Columbus, Ohio, was plagued by delays from the start. Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece complained that their flight was delayed by more than three hours, though he did not specify whether he had factored in the two-hour time difference between the cities.
"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."
Additionally, the team landed at Felipe Ángeles International Airport, located 65 kilometers (41 miles) from their hotel. The squad was forced to navigate the trek to Santa Fe through Mexico City’s notoriously heavy traffic, which was further paralyzed on Monday by heavy night rain.
Reporting by the Associated Press.
share
recommended
Brazil, Germany, Netherlands Ready For A Supercharged Round Of 32 Slate
2026 World Cup Bracket: Full Round Of 32 Matchups
Big Bets Report: World Cup Wagering Continues At Blistering Pace
Martinelli Saves The Day: 4 Takeaways From Brazil's Clutch Win vs. Japan
Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's World Cup Best Bets Today — Match Day 19
Should Disallowed Germany Goal vs. Paraguay Have Counted? 'They Got That Wrong'
5 Takeaways From Paraguay's Upset Win vs. Germany In The Round Of 32
Alexi Lalas' 2026 FIFA World Cup Bracket Prediction
USA's Path To 2026 World Cup Final: Latest Projected Opponents For Round Of 16 And On
Arrow pointing to the leftArrow pointing to the right
Item 1 of 3 
Get more from the FIFA Men's World Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic 
International Friendlies 
Mexico 
Ecuador 
FIFA Men's World Cup
NEXT STORY
Paraguay Knocks Germany Out Of 2026 World Cup After Penalty Shootout
recommended
Brazil, Germany, Netherlands Ready For A Supercharged Round Of 32 Slate
2026 World Cup Bracket: Full Round Of 32 Matchups
Big Bets Report: World Cup Wagering Continues At Blistering Pace
Martinelli Saves The Day: 4 Takeaways From Brazil's Clutch Win vs. Japan
Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's World Cup Best Bets Today — Match Day 19
Should Disallowed Germany Goal vs. Paraguay Have Counted? 'They Got That Wrong'
5 Takeaways From Paraguay's Upset Win vs. Germany In The Round Of 32
Alexi Lalas' 2026 FIFA World Cup Bracket Prediction
USA's Path To 2026 World Cup Final: Latest Projected Opponents For Round Of 16 And On
Arrow pointing to the leftArrow pointing to the right
Item 1 of 3Original Article
