Mexico could face FIFA punishment as infamous chant returns during Ecuador win despite official ban

A Mexican soccer fan reacts during the World Cup Round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Mexico secured a landmark 2-0 victory over Ecuador to reach the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but celebrations at the Estadio Azteca may be overshadowed by the possibility of disciplinary action after the controversial “puto” chant was heard again by some of the home support. The chanting, which has repeatedly led to sanctions against the Mexican Football Federation over the past decade, resurfaced during the knockout victory, despite years of awareness campaigns and previous FIFA punishments aimed at eradicating it.

Mexico’s historic victory overshadowed by familiar controversies

Mexico secured their place in the round of 16 with an emphatic 2-0 win over Ecuador at the iconic Estadio Azteca, ending a 40-year wait to win a World Cup knockout stage on home soil. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez ensured Javier Aguirre’s side continued their excellent tournament and extended their record to four straight wins without conceding a goal. Mexico became the first country since Italy at the 1990 World Cup to win their opening four matches at the tournament without conceding a single goal.

Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) celebrates with his teammates after the World Cup Round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

The result also set up a blockbuster Round of 16 meeting with England after Thomas Tuchel’s side beat DR Congo 2-1 later on Wednesday thanks to Harry Kane’s late brace. The two nations will now meet at the Estadio Azteca on July 6 for a place in the quarter-finals. Amid the celebrations at the stadium, however, a recurring problem resurfaced from the stands.

The homophobic chant is coming back despite years of campaigning

During Ecuadorian goal kicks, sections of the Mexican crowd were heard chanting the one-word expletive “puto”, a chant that translates literally to “male prostitute” in Spanish and has long been considered discriminatory and homophobic by FIFA. This chant has repeatedly landed Mexican soccer in disciplinary trouble. It first attracted global attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, before reappearing during the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar tournaments. The latest incident means it has now been heard at the fourth consecutive men’s World Cup.

Fans celebrate with Mexico players after their team’s victory over Ecuador in their World Cup Round of 32 match in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

According to the Daily Mail, the Mexican Football Federation has tried for years to eliminate the chant through supporter education initiatives and repeated appeals to fans, but these efforts have mostly failed to eradicate it. Ahead of the 2026 tournament, the federation launched its latest awareness campaign, “La Ola Sí, El Grito No” (“The wave yes, the chant no”), featuring members of Mexico’s 1986 FIFA World Cup squad and encouraging supporters to perform the Mexican wave instead of shouting an attacking chant. Despite these efforts, the chant was reportedly heard from Mexico’s opening game in the tournament and reappeared during the victory over Ecuador.

Previous sanctions could influence FIFA’s response

Mexico’s governing body has already faced significant disciplinary action over similar incidents. Ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on FIFA’s disciplinary proceedings regarding chants played during international matches against Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil and the United States in 2024. According to CAS, anti-discrimination monitors documented the incidents before FIFA imposed fines totaling 140,000 Swiss francs (approximately $178,000 or £130,457). While CAS upheld the financial sanctions, it overturned an additional sanction that would have required the closure of part of the stadium during a competition organized by FIFA. In its written decision, CAS acknowledged that the Mexican Football Federation claimed that it had implemented educational programs to prevent and eliminate chanting since 2015. However, the court concluded that these mitigation efforts were insufficient. “They found that the behavior of the fans was collective and widespread, and not just a one-off,” CAS said in its decision. The incidents were also detected by the same anti-discrimination monitoring system operating during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada, meaning FIFA could review the latest news again before deciding whether disciplinary action is warranted. Sports journalist Matt Slater of The Athletic argued that financial sanctions alone did not solve the problem. “On the one hand, FIFA fines don’t work. “But on the other hand, we can’t just let some Mexican fans keep shouting anti-gay slurs every time the opponent’s goalkeeper makes a foul. “Self-policing by the fans is the best way to fix this… now would be a good time to start.” Mexico now turn their attention back to the pitch for a high-profile round of 16 match against England, but whether FIFA launches further disciplinary proceedings following the events at the Estadio Azteca could become an unwelcome distraction as the co-hosts continue their World Cup campaign.