Los Angeles couldn’t wait for one of the most anticipated World Cup matches in the group stage of the tournament.
Mexico versus South Korea is a clash on the pitch at Guadalajara Stadium, but it’s also a collision of communities in the City of Angels.
Koreatown, a buzzing late-night neighborhood known for its party scene, has deep ties to the Korean and Mexican population in LA. The city’s cultural diversity is perfectly highlighted in a place like Koreatown.
On Thursday, that couldn’t have been more true.
Mexico and South Korea fans gathered along the streets of Koreatown to celebrate their cultures ahead of the World Cup clash. Though rivals in the tournament, fans adorned in gear enjoyed food and festivities together as Angelenos.
The city sponsored an all-day outdoor event at Seoul International Park, which began at 10 a.m. PT and ends at 10 p.m. PT. The event featured classical Korean dance performances, raffles and other activities.
There were several other watch parties throughout Koreatown on Thursday, including at longtime sports bar BiegartenLA.
One could argue the neighborhood has now become one of the best atmospheres for soccer as the highly touted World Cup matchup cements Koreatown as an LA sports staple.
There’s a lot riding on the matchup because a win for either team would guarantee a spot in the knockout round of the tournament. Mexico and South Korea are coming off victories in their respective World Cup openers, which added to the hype surrounding the game.
The World Cup craze has evidently overtaken Koreatown as the two countries clash in Guadalajara. Regardless of the outcome, the neighborhood may just go ballistic following the Mexico-South Korea match.