Mexico Fans Throw Bottles at U.S. Soccer Players in Nations League Final Win

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Bottles and other objects were thrown at members of the U.S. national soccer team, following their Sunday win against Mexico in Sunday's CONCACAF Nations League final.

TV footage and videos posted on social media showed fans throwing objects, including cups and water bottles, towards members of the U.S. team, who were celebrating their win at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.

It took place shortly after midfielder Christian Pulisic made a game-winning penalty kick that gave the U.S. the 3-2 lead in the upper 90.

Giovanni Reyna, who scored the first goal to tied the score in the first half, was struck in the head by an object. He required assistance from the team's medical staff.

Reyna later returned to the field for the trophy celebrations.

"It has no place in the game, spectators throwing objects onto the field," said U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter. "Total lack of respect for what's happening on the field and all the effort that both teams were putting into the game. So really disappointing to see."

He added: "[Reyna is] going to be O.K, but he did take something to the head and it could've been a lot worse."

Sharing a clip from CBS Sports capturing the moment Reyna was struck by the object, a sports columnist for Athlon Sports, Bryan Fischer, tweeted: "Direct hit on Gio."

Direct hit on Gio. pic.twitter.com/Ewuzx6osbo

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) June 7, 2021

Sports commentator Maximiliano Bretos was sat in the corner where USMNT [U.S. men's national soccer team] celebrated.

Sharing a picture of the scene he said it was "disgusting what just happened. Some people should spend night in jail tonight, or longer. Gio Reyna got smashed in the temple with a full Coca Cola."

I am right in the corner where USMNT celebrated, disgusting what just happened. Some people should spend night in jail tonight, or longer. Gio Reyna got smashed in the temple with a full Coca Cola. pic.twitter.com/nI2qUERGZf

— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) June 7, 2021

Earlier in the match, the game was briefly paused due to fans using an anti-gay chant. It marked the second time in four nights that a game involving Mexico's national soccer team was stopped because of discriminatory chants.

Thursday night's semi-final match between Mexico and Costa Rica was also paused due to anti-gay chants. Several fans were ejected during the first half of the game for discriminatory language following warnings on the public address system.

Back in March, FIFA, the international soccer organization, launched an investigation into anti-gay chants by supporters of the Mexican team during an Olympic qualifier game against the Dominican Republic.

Mexico fans at 2021 Nations League final.
Mexico fans showing their support during the CONCACAF Nations League final soccer game between the U.S. and Mexico on June 6 in Denver, Colorado. John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images

About the writer

Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel, health, home/interior design and property/real estate. Soo covered the COVID-19 pandemic extensively from 2020 to 2022, including several interviews with the chief medical advisor to the president, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Soo has reported on various major news events, including the Black Lives Matter movement, the U.S. Capitol riots, the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. and Canadian elections, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Soo is also a South Korea expert, covering the latest K-dramas—including the breakout hit Squid Game, which she has covered extensively, including from Seoul, the South Korean capital—as well as Korean films, such as the Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated Past Lives, and K-pop news, to interviews with the biggest Korean actors, such as Lee Jung-jae from Squid Game and Star Wars, and Korean directors, such as Golden Globe and Oscar nominee Celine Song. Soo is the author of the book How to Live Korean, which is available in 11 languages, and co-author of the book Hello, South Korea: Meet the Country Behind Hallyu. Before Newsweek, Soo was a travel reporter and commissioning editor for the award-winning travel section of The Daily Telegraph (a leading U.K. national newspaper) for nearly a decade from 2010, reporting on the latest in the travel industry, from travel news, consumer travel and aviation issues to major new openings and emerging destinations. Soo is a graduate of Binghamton University in New York and the journalism school of City University in London, where she earned a Masters in international journalism. You can get in touch with Soo by emailing s.kim@newsweek.com . Follow her on Instagram at @miss.soo.kim or X, formerly Twitter, at @MissSooKim .Languages spoken: English and Korean


Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in Read more