Mexico vs. South Korea: The World Cup's friendliest rivalry
If the FIFA World Cup were a romantic comedy, Mexico and South Korea would be in the strangers-to-lovers arc.
Before their teams even met on the pitch, fans from both countries had already hit it off. In the streets of Guadalajara, supporters have broken into impromptu performances of "Gangnam Style," greeted one another with chants of "BTS," posed for photos together, and shared not only bottles of tequila but also videos of their celebrations across social media.
Which makes Thursday night's Group A matchup a little awkward. After all, every good romance needs conflict.
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Mexico and South Korea enter the June 18 match with plenty at stake, but unlike most World Cup rivalries, this one comes with an unusual amount of affection. Eight years after South Korea's famous upset over Germany helped send Mexico to the knockout stage, fans from both countries have rekindled a friendship that has become one of the tournament's most unexpected storylines.
The relationship even has a slogan: "Coreano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano," which translates to "Korean brother, you're Mexican now."
And if the videos flooding TikTok, Instagram Reels, and X are any indication, plenty of fans seem to mean it.
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Part of that affection 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 rounds, turning Korean players into unlikely heroes among Mexican supporters. Mexican fans famously gathered outside the South Korean embassy in Mexico City to celebrate and even crowdfunded beer for Korean fans. Eight years later, the amity hasn't disappeared. If anything, social media has only strengthened it.
The relationship now extends well beyond football. Mexico has become one of the largest markets for Korean pop culture outside Asia, with K-pop acts regularly selling out arenas across the country. According to Spotify data, Mexico ranked fifth globally for K-pop listening in 2025. So when South Korean supporters arrived for the World Cup, many found themselves welcomed by fans who were already familiar with their music, food, and culture.
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That welcome wasn't just online. Earlier this month, hundreds of Mexican supporters greeted South Korea's national team when it arrived at its hotel in Guadalajara, a scene that quickly went viral on social media.
The affection has become so pronounced that some supporters have half-jokingly suggested the ideal result would be a draw, a way for both teams and both fanbases to walk away happy.
Of course, goodwill only goes so far once the whistle blows. For 90 minutes, at least, Mexico and South Korea will have to set aside their status as the World Cup's friendliest rivalry and do what every tournament demands: Try to beat each other.
As one fan told NPR ahead of the match, "Whoever wins, that's my team."
Most World Cup rivalries don't work that way.
Topics Social Media Sports FIFA World Cup
Crystal Bell is the Digital Culture Editor at Mashable, where she leads coverage of the creator economy, internet culture, and digital life. Her work focuses on the people, platforms, and communities shaping modern entertainment, from YouTube creators and livestreamers to fandoms, social media trends, and the evolving relationship between technology and culture. She also oversees the Mashable 101, the publication's annual list recognizing the internet's most influential creators.
Previously, she was the entertainment director at MTV News, where she helped expand the brand's coverage of fan culture, K-pop, and the internet's most passionate communities. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, PAPER, NYLON, ELLE, Glamour, NME, W, The FADER, and elsewhere on the internet.
She's exceptionally fluent in fandom and will gladly make you a K-pop playlist and/or provide anime recommendations upon request. Crystal lives in New York City with her two black cats, Howl and Sophie.
