Futbol

While Mexico's World Cup run will continue thanks to the mechanics of the tournament, it was a much more subdued group that convened in Parque Mexico this afternoon after la selección's agonizingly bad performance against Uruguay. An early-arriving thunderstorm that drenched already damp spirits and ended play for the day paradoxically underscored what is special about the daily matches in the park. Huddled underneath the narrow roof of a bench were kids of varying ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. The park serves as a remarkable public space where soccer provides the fibers through which friendships are forged across certain boundaries.