Discriminatory Chanting Marred CONCACAF Nations League Final Between US and Mexico, Forcing Referee to Halt the Game Twice
The highly anticipated CONCACAF Nations League final between the United States men’s team and Mexico at AT&T Stadium in Texas on Sunday was marred by discriminatory chanting from the crowd, which compelled referee Drew Fischer to halt the game on two occasions. The US ultimately secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory and its third consecutive trophy, but the match was overshadowed by disturbing homophobic chants from a substantial portion of the 59,471-strong crowd.
Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna were the goalscorers for the US team, securing a crucial win in the 87th minute through Adams’ powerful shot and doubling their lead just past the hour mark with Reyna’s smart finish. However, despite the US team’s dominant performance on the pitch, the game was repeatedly interrupted due to discriminatory chants from the stands.
The use of a homophobic slur was most prominent when US goalkeeper Matt Turner prepared for a goal-kick in the latter stages of the match. With the US already 2-0 up, Fischer suspended the game for over four minutes during the 88th minute and urged the crowd to desist through stadium announcements. The match was once again halted in the sixth minute of stoppage time for over a minute due to similar chants from the same sections of the crowd.
In a statement issued after the game, CONCACAF expressed its disappointment and condemnation of the discriminatory chanting: “CONCACAF condemns the discriminatory chanting in the final minutes of the Nations League Final between Mexico and the United States men’s national teams. Security staff in the stadium identified and ejected a significant number of fans, and the referee and match officials activated the FIFA protocol.”
Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, also expressed his disappointment and called for those responsible to be held accountable. “Discrimination, of any kind, has no place in football and no place in society,” he said on his Instagram story.
US Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation have been contacted by News Finder for comment regarding Sunday’s incident. This is not the first time that a CONCACAF Nations League match between these two sides has been suspended due to homophobic chanting. During last year’s semifinals, the referee ended the game prematurely due to discriminatory chants from the crowd.
FIFA has previously fined the Mexican Football Federation for homophobic chants made by the team’s fans. The US, Mexico, and Canada are set to co-host the FIFA men’s World Cup in 2026, making it imperative that such incidents are addressed to promote a positive and inclusive environment for all participants.
In its statement, CONCACAF also reiterated its commitment to urging fans to support their teams positively and with respect for all participants in the game: “It is extremely disappointing that this matter continues to be an issue at some matches, particularly in the context of the next two years presenting such a tremendous opportunity to grow the sport in our region. We will continue to urge fans to support their teams positively and with respect for the opposition and all participants in the game.”
FIFA has a three-step protocol to deal with abuse. When a referee is informed of any abuse, they should temporarily withdraw teams from the field of play if it continues. If the abuse persists, the match may be abandoned.
On the pitch, the US men’s team demonstrated resilience and determination to secure their victory despite facing interruptions due to discriminatory chants from the stands. Their quality moments on the pitch ultimately sealed a well-deserved win.
