From the Oakland Roots’ soccer to the 49ers’ first game of the season, the Bay Area was buzzing with sports excitement the first weekend in September. But there was one team that notably brought the Bay together.
The Mexico National soccer team took over the Oakland Coliseum Saturday, Sept. 6, to play a friendly game against the Japanese National team. The last time the Mexican team played at the Coliseum was in 2011, making this event the first time in over 10 years the team returned to the East Bay Area.
With Latinos making up 24% of the East Bay’s population, a Bay Area game meant more than just 90 minutes of soccer. The match created a moment of community and Latin pride for many in the Bay Area. Even before the game, the Oakland Coliseum parking lot was transformed into a hub for fans to get into the spirit of the game with booths, stages and food trucks.
The last time the Mexican team played at the Coliseum was in 2011, making this event the first time in over 10 years the team returned to the East Bay Area
The Oakland Roots Soccer Club also hosted a booth where fans were able to purchase merchandise just in time for the team’s own game that would be taking place in the same venue just 24 hours later.
The Gran Centenario Tequila stage hosted games and challenges to entertain the crowd while adults had the chance to enjoy Centenario mixed drinks. Gran Centenario Tequila has a special place in the pre-game celebration since it’s been named the official tequila of the National Mexican team.
Attendees shared drinks with friends and family as the match and Centenario brought generations together. A family of Hayward natives enjoyed the celebration area with their 80-year-old grandfather sharing, “We didn’t know if he’d ever seen a [Mexico] game before and we didn’t know if there’d ever be a chance to experience it again, so we decided to do it.”
Inside of the Oakland Coliseum, seats were flooded with a sea of red and green jerseys. Some fans even got more creative, donning costumes of classic Mexican characters like “El Chavo” and “El ChapulÍn Colorado.”
Although most of the stadium was filled by supporters of the Mexican team, Japan was still represented in the crowd by fans proudly waving Japanese flags and sporting the blue and white Japanese team jerseys. In the first half, the Japanese team did give their fans much to be proud of as they held possession of the ball for most of the 45 minutes. In the second half, Mexico was able to pick up their stride and had a few close calls on goal. Although the match ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the energy throughout the game remained friendly.
The presence of so many Mexico team supporters wasn’t lost on the players themselves. In an interview given in Spanish, two players of the National team commented on their experience playing in the Bay Area. Forward Germán Berterame, who was subbed into the game at the 61st minute mark, said, “It surprised me, the [amount] of people that were there. It was crazy.”
Mexico’s defender César Montes said, “This is the second time that I’ve played here. The truth is that it’s always filled with Mexican fans, they’re always supporting us.” Montes added, “It seems like a cliché, but we can feel it on the field when we are being supported.”
With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the energy, community and fandom at Saturday’s game may be just a glimpse of what’s to come as the Bay Area is set to host next summer.
