GLENDALE — El Clásico de México arrived in the Valley of the Sun on Saturday, as Club América and Chivas de Guadalajara brought their intense Liga MX rivalry north of the border.
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Danny Torres, from left, Victor Perez and Carlos Rodriguez gather outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale for the El Clásico de México soccer match between Club América and Chivas de Guadalajara on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Glendale. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The exhibition game was played at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. While no trophies were on the line, fans showed up in full team colors, fiercely cheering on their sides and transforming the usual red sea into a vibrant display of different colors.
Fans come dressed not only in typical jerseys but also paint their faces, wear masks and wigs, and don classic Mexican attire. Luchador masks are a staple, and fans bring horns and noisemakers to make their support heard. It’s almost as if the crowd was copied and pasted from Mexico to Arizona, but it’s not.
These are fans who live in Arizona just as passionate, taking advantage of every opportunity to see a game from their country.
Fans cheer from the stands as Club América plays Chivas de Guadalajara during El Clásico de México at State Farm Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Glendale. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Soccer, or fútbol, is a staple in Mexico. The fans are passionate as every game is played not only for a win in the books, but also for pride. For many first- and second-generation Mexican Americans, the match was more than an exhibition. It was a piece of culture brought stateside.
Arizona is home to many Mexicans and Mexican Americans, so when there is an opportunity to watch a Mexican-based team, the games fill.
Club América forward Brian Rodríguez (7) dribbles the ball as Chivas de Guadalajara Fernando Gonzalez (28) defends during El Clásico de México at State Farm Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Glendale. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The match also highlighted Liga MX’s growing ambitions to become more marketable outside Mexico, especially by bringing a popular rivalry to the United States. Targeting states with the most passionate soccer markets, like Arizona, helps reinforce interest in the sport.
El Clásico also comes a few months before the FIFA World Cup, which begins in the summer of 2026. The U.S., Mexico and Canada are set to host the prestigious soccer tournament. In a way, the exhibition match serves as a preview of what fans may see next summer, as some players on Club América and Chivas could represent their respective countries in the tournament.
¡El Clásico Nacional terminó empatado! 🦅🔥🐐
América y Chivas igualaron cartones en un encuentro en el que Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández le marcó por primera vez a Las Águilas. 👏⚽ pic.twitter.com/rpQ9yoivfa
— TNT Sports México (@tntsportsmex) October 12, 2025
Despite the match ending in a 1-1 draw, the passion and turnout for El Clásico de México may have cemented it as a cross-border cultural event and could return to Arizona again soon.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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