MEX-TOUR SEND OFF VS AUSTRALIA

Mexico and Australia faced off at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in one of the final tune-up matches before the World Cup. The stadium was packed with Mexican fans, flags, jerseys and nonstop energy throughout the night. It felt like more than just a friendly, with the World Cup only days away and both teams getting one of their last chances to prepare on a big stage.

Mexico came out strong and controlled most of the first half, eventually finding the opening goal through Johan Vásquez in the 28th minute. Australia had a few chances but Mexico was able to keep them under control for most of the half. The match picked up after halftime as Australia pushed for the equalizer, but Mexico stayed organized and held on to the 1–0 lead until the final whistle.

The game itself was only part of what made the night special. At halftime, Mexican DJ Deorro took over the Rose Bowl with a performance that brought the energy in the stadium to another level. Becky G also made an appearance and joined Deorro during the halftime show, giving the crowd another big moment to react to. Between the soccer, the music and the fans, the whole night felt like a celebration leading into the World Cup.

The weekend around the match also had a strong Mexican music presence, with Mexican artist Xavi taking over the Rose Bowl the night before for a live performance. His show helped set the tone for the weekend and brought even more fans out ahead of the Mexico-Australia match. By the time game day arrived, the Rose Bowl already felt like it was building toward something much bigger than a normal international friendly.

For me, shooting the match was about capturing everything happening around the game just as much as the action on the field. The players, the fans, the flags, the halftime performance and the different artists coming through the Rose Bowl all became part of the story. With the World Cup right around the corner, Pasadena had a different kind of energy that weekend, and being there to photograph it gave me a chance to capture what that moment felt like from the ground.

Photos and Article by Joseph Hernandez