Celebrations broke out all over San Diego on Sunday, from downtown to Tijuana, as Mexico delivered a major upset in its first match of the 2018 World Cup, beating Germany 1-0.
Mexico became the first non-European team to shut out Germany in the World Cup since 2002 and the celebrations lasted throughout the day.
In National City, so many people were celebrating in the streets police had to shut down parts of Highland Avenue.
Mexico fans packed El Chingon in downtown San Diego before 8 a.m. hoping for the best but also being realistic in the national team’s first game against Germany, the defending World Cup champions.
"Hoping for a tie, came out with a win, I loved it," Raul Cadena said. "We weren't the underdog today. We were at the same level they were. We've always been at the same level as anyone in the world. We always got caught slipping."
But Sunday Mexico did not slip, scoring in the first half and beating Germany.
“They played really well,” Juan Ortiz said. “It was a good game — it was intense. When they scored that goal, I felt like I scored that goal, that's how good I felt."
Local
And fans are feeling good about Mexico's start, which gives the team an easier time in group play to advance to the knock out stage.
"I think they'll be pumped. This got them going,” Alexandra Pissel said. “The start of the World Cup and I think they'll keep going. They're going to keep doing good."
