During a recent Group A World Cup match against Czechia, Mexico fans were heard yelling a notorious anti-gay slur, continuing a persistent issue for the national team’s supporters. As Cyd Zeigler reported for Outsports, observers noted the homophobic chant around the 39th minute of the game, a detail also corroborated by the Associated Press.
The chant, “puto,” traditionally yelled during the opposing goalkeeper’s goal kicks, is a term meant to demean men by implying they sleep with other men.
Despite ongoing efforts by Mexican officials and past disciplinary measures from FIFA, a subset of fans has refused to abandon the chant. The slur was previously a point of contention during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.While it remains unclear whether stadium officials took direct action during the match against Czechia, the chanting reportedly ceased in the second half as Mexico secured a decisive 3-0 victory to advance to the knockout round.
Read Cyd Zeigler’s full report on the incident, the history of the chant, and what it means for the remainder of the tournament at Outsports: https://www.outsports.com/2026/6/25/24138025/gay-slur-mexico-world-cup-puto-czechia-fans-fifa/
