If FIFA World Cup were a romantic comedy, Mexico and South Korea would be in the guest-for-lovers lineup.
Even before their teams met on the field, the fans of both countries were already excited. In the streets of Guadalajara, supporters have unexpectedly invaded shows “Gangnam Style,” they greeted each other to “BTS” songs, it was taken with group photos, and shared not only bottles of tequila but also videos of their celebrations on social networks.
Which makes the Group A match on Thursday night a little awkward. After all, every good romance needs conflict.
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Mexico and South Korea will enter the June 18 match with a lot at stake, but unlike most World Cup rivals, this one comes with an unusual amount of love. Eight years after South Korea’s antics against Germany helped send Mexico into the knockout stages, fans from both countries have rekindled a friendship that has become one of the tournament’s unlikely stories.
That relationship it even has a slogan: “Coreano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano,” which translates to “Brother Korean, you are Mexican now.”
And if the videos flooding TikTok, Instagram Reels, and X are any indication, many fans seem to mean it.
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Part of that love can be traced back to the 2018 World Cup, when South Korea stunned Germany in the group stage. The result helped Mexico advance to the knockout stage, turning Korean players into unlikely heroes among Mexican supporters. Mexican fans gathered outside the South Korean embassy in Mexico City to celebrate and even crowdfunded beer for Korean fans. Eight years later, that love has not gone away. If anything, social media has only strengthened it.
That relationship now extends beyond football. Mexico has been one of the the largest markets for Korean pop culture outside of Asia, with K-pop shows regularly selling out arenas across the country. According to Spotify dataMexico was ranked fifth worldwide for K-pop listening in 2025. So when South Korean fans arrived for the World Cup, many found themselves welcomed by fans who were already familiar with their music, cuisine and culture.
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The welcome was not only online. Earlier this month, hundreds of Mexican supporters greeted the South Korean national team when they arrived at their hotel in Guadalajara, an event that went viral on social media.
The passion has been so pronounced that some supporters have half-jokingly suggested the best result would have been a draw, a way for both teams and fans to walk away happy.
Of course, good intentions only go so far once the whistle blows. For 90 minutes, at least, Mexico and South Korea will have to put aside their status as the World Cup’s friendliest rivalry and do what every competition wants: Try to beat each other.
As one fan he told NPR before the match, “Whoever wins, that’s my team.”
Most World Cup tournaments don’t work that way.
