FIFA World Cup 2026: US punches ticket to World Cup knockout round after 2-0 win over Australia

Mexico takes on South Korea, a huge game in the World Cup, Thursday night. We of course have big populations in Los Angeles and the two cultures have a friendship.

Mexico takes on South Korea, a huge game in the World Cup, Thursday night. We of course have big populations in Los Angeles and the two cultures have a friendship.

It's a love story years in the making and this World Cup brings a new chapter. As Mexico and South Korea fútbol fans embrace one another around the world, it strikes a cord in L.A., a microcosm of these communities coming together.

"It's very beautiful to see because you have these two different cultures that come together, and it's like, you see this big community evolve throughout the years," said Mexico fan and Baldwin Park resident Jackie Carrillo.

In the 2018 World Cup, the two countries forged a bond when South Korea beat Germany helping Mexico advance to the next stage.

Ever since that day, the popular chant "Coreano hermano, ya eres mexicano" can be heard. It translated as "Korean brother, you are now Mexican."

And for many, the love story goes back further. The Carrillo sisters are longtime K-pop fans.

"I started with second-generation of K-pop," said Belen Carrillo.

They've embraced K-drama and Korean culture, making their way to South Korea.

"I want to keep learning more about Korea itself...I'm very thankful that my sister introduced me to K-pop, and also, just Korea itself because it's amazing.

Some not only love but represent both cultures. Little Yuna is Japanese, Mexican and Korean.

"She's wearing a Mexico jersey and a little hanbok to kind of bring her culture together," said Yuna's mother.

So although there is a competition, many are rooting for both teams.

If you are looking for a fun place to watch the Mexico vs South Korea game Thursday night, head over to Seoul International Park in L.A.'s Koreatown.

There are activations and games, and the first 1,000 attendees will get a Red Devils T-shirt, bandana and thunder stick. You can bring chairs and umbrellas, but alcohol is not permitted.

The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PT.

Fans gathered early Thursday at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood for a World Cup match between Bosnia and Switzerland.

The game marks the third World Cup match played at the stadium. A U.S. matchup against Paraguay opened the slate last Friday, followed by Iran and New Zealand on Monday.

Thursday's match is the first time Bosnia and Switzerland have faced each other in the World Cup. Large numbers of fans, particularly from Bosnia, filled nearby streets, creating a sea of blue and yellow as they made their way toward the stadium.

Switzerland enters the match with a roughly 62% chance of winning, though recent upsets in the tournament have kept expectations uncertain.

All Group B teams - Switzerland, Bosnia, Canada and Qatar - have one point each.

The eight teams playing World Cup matches on Thursday are taking part in an International Day for Countering Hate Speech commemoration, with a pre-match exchange of pennants denouncing such language.

Captains involved in the Czechia-South Africa, Mexico-South Korea, Switzerland-Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada-Qatar matches will have pennants reading "We Play Together. We Stand Against Hate" with the wording in English on one side and the teams' native language on the other.

FIFA says it has deleted more than 30 million abusive posts and comments since its social media protection service was created before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

FIFA says it deleted nearly 400,000 negative or abusive posts in the first few days of this World Cup - more than it did in the entirety of the 2022 event.

Other stadium activations involving that message are planned during Thursday's matches.