Sunday night’s Concacaf Nations League final between Mexico and Panama was briefly interrupted due to anti-gay chants from fans inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. In the 82nd minute, Concacaf issued their first warning before pausing the match a couple of minutes later. Play resumed shortly after that, with Mexico winning the match 2-1.
This incident marked the third consecutive year these chants have disrupted the tournament, following similar occurrences in previous matches, including the 2023 semifinal and the 2024 final.
Key Moments
- Raul Jimenez scored the game-winning penalty in the 92nd minute, marking his second goal of the match.
- This victory secured Mexico’s first Concacaf Nations League title.
Historical Context
In previous finals, matches involving Mexico have been paused due to the fans’ use of derogatory chants. During El Tri’s 2021 semifinal win over Costa Rica, the match was paused for three minutes during a penalty shootout.
Anti-Discrimination Policies
Ahead of the initial Nations League finals in 2021, Concacaf implemented a three-step policy, mirroring FIFA’s guidelines, to address discriminatory conduct from fans. If fans continue such behaviors, matches may be suspended or abandoned at the referee’s discretion.
