The final night of the World Cup at the Mexico City Stadium provided a scene that will remain etched in the memories of thousands of fans.
Beyond the intensity of the match between Mexico and England in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it was the music that brought the crowd together in one of the most emotional moments of the evening.
The match didn’t start off well for the Tricolor. England dominated much of the first half and managed to go into halftime with a one-goal lead, which created an atmosphere of concern among the more than 80,000 fans who packed the stadium. However, the halftime show completely turned the mood around in the stands.
Maná puts on a performance brimming with Mexican pride
The task of getting the crowd going fell to Maná, one of the most iconic Spanish-language rock bands and the pride of Jalisco. The band took the stage, which had been set up alongside the field, sparking an immediate ovation from the audience.
Before the show began, actor Jaime Camil and world boxing champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez introduced the musicians, building even more excitement among the fans.
The occasion also gave the Mexican boxer a chance to say a few words of appreciation to Fernando “Fher” Olvera, the band’s lead singer.
“Thank you, Fher, for representing Mexico the way you do,” Álvarez told the thousands of attendees.
The message was met with applause, especially after the singer had been involved in a back-and-forth with Oasis member Liam Gallagher a few days earlier, who had predicted a rout by England over Mexico before the match.
Many were hoping that Maná would perform some of their biggest hits, especially “Oye Mi Amor,” a song that became one of the Mexican fans’ favorite anthems during this World Cup and has been played at celebrations both inside and outside the stadiums.
However, the band chose to surprise the audience with a powerful rock rendition of the classic “El Rey,” an immortal song by José Alfredo Jiménez.
The choice came as a surprise, but the very first chords were enough to completely transform the atmosphere. Little by little, the entire stadium began to sing in unison, putting aside their concerns about the unfavorable score for a few minutes.
A moment that brought two fan bases together
One of the most striking aspects of the show was the reaction of the English fans. Although many didn’t know the lyrics to the song, they ended up joining in the celebration with applause and enthusiastic gestures.
For about 15 minutes, the sporting rivalries faded away. Mexicans and English fans shared the same space, where music replaced the tension typical of a knockout match.
The performance was brief, as FIFA sets a time limit for the halftime break before the players return to the field, so Maná appeared only during the final part of halftime.
Before leaving the stage, Fernando Olvera closed out the performance with a message that sent the Mexico City Stadium into a frenzy.
“Long live Mexico, you bastards!” shouted the singer as the audience responded with a huge ovation.
The excitement generated by the team restored hope to the Mexican fans, who once again believed in a possible comeback during the second half of the match.
Beyond the final score, Maná’s performance became one of the most memorable moments of the night. The band demonstrated once again the significance it holds within the country’s musical culture and how, even on a stage dominated by soccer, its songs are capable of bringing thousands of people together around a shared sense of identity, celebration, and national pride.
