Santa Ana Celebrates Mexico’s World Cup Victory
Brenda Jaimes navigated through a lively crowd in downtown Santa Ana, shouting for attention amidst the celebration. Earlier, Mexico secured a 1-0 win against South Korea in the World Cup. Jaimes, a 22-year-old resident, joined thousands of others in bars and restaurants to witness the victory before spilling onto the streets to celebrate.
The scene was euphoric. Fans filled the air with horn sounds and noisemakers while chanting “México!” and “¡Sí se puede!” The Mexican flag was omnipresent, seen on banners, painted on faces, and even on Jaimes’ outfit. People danced on trucks and celebrated exuberantly.
Amidst the cheers, an Orange County Fire Authority truck joined in with its sirens. A procession of drivers on Fourth Street—Santa Ana’s cultural and economic heart—exchanged high-fives and shook their cars as if in a festive bounce house. Jaimes wanted more. She trusted a group of men dressed in Mexico jerseys to lift her eight feet into the air before catching her as she laughed.
This scene repeated across Southern California, from Koreatown to Huntington Park, showing a widespread celebration among large Latino communities. Such celebrations happen whenever Mexico triumphs in soccer, but the intensity was higher in Santa Ana.
A year before, Fourth Street was desolate due to immigration raids. Federal agents patrolled the city and a National Guard roadblock stood nearby. Fear gripped Santa Ana, one of the most Latino prominent cities in the country. On this night, joy replaced that fear.
“This is the opposite of last year’s raids,” said Sandra De Anda, wearing a Mexican soccer jersey and waving a South Korean flag. As the director of policy and legal strategy for the Orange County Rapid Response Network, De Anda actively opposed immigration actions. Despite federal challenges, the community continued to push back.
Jaimes echoed this sentiment. After her acrobatic moment, she expressed defiance toward political criticisms, valuing the night’s celebration as real and significant. It was a stand of cultural pride and unity.
The crowd continued shaking vehicles in celebration. Watching Mexico lead in its World Cup group was always exciting, but in 2026, political tensions added depth to the victory. Former President Trump’s views on Mexican success were a backdrop to these festivities. His administration had often criticized Mexican Americans for celebrating their heritage.
Many Mexican Americans support El Tri for more than sport. The team symbolizes perseverance despite adversity, embodying Mexican values of resilience and hope. Fans believe America’s diversity should embrace Mexico’s soccer journey.
Across the U.S., Mexican American fans outnumber their American counterparts in support for El Tri during matches. This often leads to scrutinizing their loyalty and cultural identity. Critics see the crowds waving Mexican flags as contentious, despite other diasporas showing similar pride without judgment.
Events like these, where Mexico wins on an international stage, provide global underdogs a unifying hope. They emphasize that peaceful cultural exchanges should prevail over divisive policies and hostility.
Sydney Tran, driving a Honda Civic filled with friends, experienced firsthand the passionate celebration. Happy to see her Mexican friends joyful, Tran, though Vietnamese, joined in, acknowledging the shared immigrant struggles.
The festivities continued late into the night, with open restaurants and sidewalk dance parties. Music filled the air, a stark contrast to the previous year’s tense protests. No police presence disrupted the night, unlike the heavy response to anti-ICE protests the year earlier.
Despite recognizing the challenges ahead, from political policies to the World Cup competition, the celebration brought temporary relief. For a night, the prospects of better days energized the community.
As the night unfolded, the celebration signaled a hopeful resilience. Santa Ana stood united, demonstrating a spirit that refused to be diminished.