As the World Cup attracts the attention of millions of fans around the world, several Latin restaurants in Gainesville are becoming gathering places for soccer lovers.
When Mexico vs. South Africa opened the World Cup Wednesday afternoon, three Latino restaurants welcomed fans in and created spaces for them to watch the game together.
Mexican restaurant Las Carretas on Second Avenue is one restaurant that will be hosting game showings for all World Cup matches.
Pedro Guadarrama, the owner of Las Carretas, said the idea came from this year’s World Cup hosts: Mexico, the United States and Canada. He thought it was a good opportunity to bring people from all countries together to watch the matches.
Because the World Cup only happens every four years, Guadarrama said, it’s an event to make the most of.
“It’s a time to spend time together, to talk, to get out of the work routine,” he said.
To Guadarrama, showing the matches at the restaurants is a form of customer service, he added. The restaurant aims to offer a good experience, entertainment and a space to break from routine and connect with fellow soccer fans, he said.
“There are people who want to enjoy Mexican food, some margaritas, some guacamole and watching a soccer game,” Guaderrama said. “Well, that sounds interesting to me.”
Ricardo Cedillo, a 37-year-old roofer and Branford resident, came to Gainesville and even left work early to enjoy the opening match at Las Carretas.
Cedillo, originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico, said he thought it was important Latino restaurants were showing the World Cup matches and, in some way, it feels like being at home.
“So we can come together more because Latinos are from many different countries,” Cedillo said. “To talk among ourselves and spend more time together, because that’s something that’s needed here in Gainesville.”
Agness Leslie, a UF African politics professor, enjoyed the game at Las Carretas with some friends.
Leslie is originally from Lusaka, Zambia, a country located in the southern part of Africa, which is why she was there excited to root for South Africa.
She said Las Carretas’ watch party was a wonderful opportunity for people in Gainesville to celebrate a global event like the World Cup.
“Soccer brings the community together, no matter where you're from,” Leslie said.
She said it was nice to have so many people from so many countries come together to watch a game, even when their national team isn’t playing. Fans from Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, the United States and other countries all enjoyed the kick start of the World Cup.
Claudia Upegui, a Gainesville resident from Medellín, Colombia, also decided to leave work earlier to watch the match with her friends.
One of the “most beautiful” things about soccer, Upegui said, is that it brings the community together.
She said Latinos have always welcomed people from other communities without prejudice.
“[Latinos] are very open in that sense,” Upegui said. “I think we should stay that way, keep enjoying soccer and be able to share, for example, here in restaurants.”
Samba Brazilian Kitchen will also be showing all World Cup matches at its restaurant in Haile Village Center.
Jose Lemos, the restaurant’s co-owner, said that as a Brazilian restaurant, it was something they could not avoid.
“Soccer is part of our culture,” Lemos said.
The restaurant plans to hold bigger events on the days Brazil plays, he added. For example, for the Brazil vs. Morocco game this Saturday, Samba plans to have a second TV, speakers and tents to expand the customer area.
If the public shows interest, Lemos added, the restaurant could make the events bigger for matches with other Latino teams or the United States.
Bringing the community together and making customers feel at home is essential to Samba’s owners, who are all immigrants from Brazil who have lived in Gainesville for many years, Lemos said.
“We serve as a hub for Brazilians, but also for all the community,” Lemos said.
Tinker, a Venezuelan street food restaurant, will also show all World Cup games at its Main Street and Tioga locations.
In the past, Tinker has brought the community together through sports games watch parties, like when it showed Copa América games and the World Baseball Classic.
Alejandro Bustillo, a 29-year old Gainesville resident from Bogotá, Colombia, watched the first World Cup match at Tinker. He said he went to Tinker because it has good food, and he saw on its social media that it would be showing the game.
Bustillo doesn’t know many Latinos in Gainesville, he said, so watch parties at Latino restaurants seem like a good opportunity to meet more Hispanic people.
“A lot of people here in the United States don’t like soccer,” Bustillo said, “so it’s cool to have the Latino community and find people.”
Bustillo said he is excited to cheer for Colombia — because it’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup.
“I’m really excited about the entire tournament,” Bustillo said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, and it’s really cool that it’s happening here in the United States.”
Andres Dorado, a 30-year-old UF Shands pharmacy technician from Bucaramanga, Colombia, watched the opening match at Las Carretas with his friends. He said it’s always better to watch soccer with other people.
A lifelong soccer fan, Dorado cheered for South Africa in the opening match and said he’ll be cheering for Colombia when they play next.
The World Cup is a special occasion, he said, because it only happens every four years, and you never know how many you’ll get to see in your lifetime.
He said it’s important to have places like Las Carretas where one can enjoy the games with people from different cultures. It’s a good time to show people from the U.S. different cultures, he added.
“We are living in a time right now where being a person of color is very controversial," Dorado said. “It’s important so they can see how beautiful soccer is. It’s a global sport — not just for Latinos but for everyone.”
Contact Ornella Moreno at omoreno@alligator.org. Follow her on X @ornellamorenom.
Ornella Moreno is a senior journalism student with a concentration in psychology in her first semester at The Alligator. She covers El Caiman Ave. Previously, she worked as a radio anchor for WUFT Noticias. In her free time, Ornella enjoys doing yoga, reading and going to the movies.
