{"id":11629,"date":"2026-06-02T17:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=11629"},"modified":"2026-06-02T17:02:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:02:17","slug":"why-soccer-fandom-in-latin-america-feels-almost-sacred","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=11629","title":{"rendered":"Why soccer fandom in Latin America feels almost sacred"},"content":{"rendered":"

By MAR\u00cdA TERESA HERN\u00c1NDEZ, NAYARA BATSCHKE and EL\u00c9ONORE HUGHES<\/strong><\/p>\n

MEXICO CITY (AP) \u2014 The chain that hung from Santiago Garc\u00eda\u2019s neck carried no crosses or saint medals, yet it felt sacred nonetheless.<\/p>

Read more As the World Cup approaches, Sotheby\u2019s is set to auction Pele\u2019s jersey<\/a><\/p>\n

When Garc\u00eda\u2019s grandmother fell sick years ago and he visited her in intensive care, the Argentine soccer fan took off his beloved Boca Juniors necklace and placed it around her neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoca will save you,\u201d Garc\u00eda murmured to his grandmother. \u201cAnd it did. So now it\u2019s hers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Garc\u00eda\u2019s faith in his club mirrors that of millions across Latin America as the region prepares for the 2026 World Cup. From Argentina to Mexico, devotion to the game often spills into everyday life, inspiring rituals and beliefs tied to the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been an emotional connection between the public and their soccer teams for a long time,\u201d said Mexican analyst Erick Fern\u00e1ndez. \u201cIt fosters identity and bonds that make us feel part of a sporting process that represents us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Argentina, the home country of Lionel Messi, sports passion is often inherited within families and loyalty to clubs strengthens over time. Pope Francis himself \u2014 born in Argentina and lifelong supporter of club San Lorenzo \u2014 said he agreed with those describing soccer as the world\u2019s most beautiful game.<\/p>\n

Garc\u00eda\u2019s love for Boca Juniors came from his father. He said his mother used to support another team, but after the couple met, she became a Boca fan too.<\/p>

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\u201cYou usually support your mother\u2019s or father\u2019s club,\u201d Garc\u00eda said. \u201cSoccer is the backbone of it all, but you develop a sense of belonging to a team and carry it with you everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

He may have let go of his Boca necklace and the energy he believed it carried, but the club\u2019s imprint was already etched into his skin.<\/p>\n

At age 17, Garc\u00eda tattooed a phrase from the club\u2019s anthem on his torso. Fourteen years later, those words remain as meaningful as they were when the ink was fresh.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt belongs to a song that is like a chant of war for us,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s like saying: \u2018No matter the storm, no matter what happens, we will always be there for you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>

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