The Mexican National Team and its supporters have found the perfect anthem for their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 showdown against England on Sunday, July 5. The song is “Aquí No Es Así” by legendary Mexican rock band Caifanes, a track that has become a rallying cry for hope, unity, and national pride ahead of the match at Estadio Ciudad de México.
The song gained renewed attention after the Mexican National Team shared a video on its social media channels on Thursday, July 2, featuring the track, surprising Caifanes frontman Saúl Hernández. Just two days earlier, Hernández had attended Mexico’s 2 to 0 victory over Ecuador at Estadio Ciudad de México, formerly known as Estadio Azteca, alongside his son after receiving an invitation from national team player César “Chino” Huerta.
“Many of my songs are about an existential search, who we are, where we’re going or what we want. All those questions appear in my particular way of creating,” Hernández told Billboard Español. “That’s what people hear; there’s a much deeper connection, perhaps with this understanding that the greatest battle of your life is the one in the mirror.”
“Aquí No Es Así” originally appeared on Caifanes’ landmark 1994 album El Nervio del Volcán. The lyrics were written by Hernández alongside drummer Alfonso André and former guitarist Alejandro Marcovich, who is currently in a coma after suffering a stroke on May 19.
Back in 2017, Marcovich reflected on the song’s evolving meaning during the #To2Unidos campaign, an initiative created by Mexican radio stations in the United States in response to anti immigration policies introduced during Donald Trump’s first presidential term.
“Apparently, those lyrics helped resonate with the patriotic Mexican spirit,” Marcovich wrote on Facebook at the time. “Although, of course, they were not written with any purpose other than to highlight the difference between the invaders and the conquered in this, the Mexican territory.”
Hernández described Mexico’s role as one of the three host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside the United States and Canada, as a truly historic moment. “An event as grand as the World Cup somehow connects with that search for sensitivity and brotherhood,” he said. “I think the World Cup is helping the country show that it has life, strength, and incredible magic.”
While celebrating the sense of togetherness inspired by the tournament, with fans embracing their culture and rallying behind the national team, Hernández also believes the event has created an opportunity for deeper reflection during a challenging period in Mexico’s social and political landscape.
“I was with my son at the Mexico vs. Ecuador match. It’s incredible how people pour their hearts out, and this indescribable energy is generated,” he said. “The national team played impeccably, but I think that, beyond sports, it’s important for society to stand in solidarity with other social movements, especially those that are isolated by the state, like the mothers searching for their missing loved ones.”
The issue of disappearances in Mexico has also remained in the spotlight throughout the tournament, as families of the more than 135,000 people officially listed as missing or unaccounted for have used the global attention surrounding the World Cup to raise awareness about what they describe as “the real Mexico.”
“The only thing I could say is that we should take this moment for deep reflection,” Hernández added. “Let’s enjoy it, but let’s not forget the causes for which so many people are suffering greatly.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s highly anticipated meeting with England, the first World Cup match between the two countries since their 1 to 1 draw in 1966, Hernández believes the visitors will face a difficult challenge with Mexico playing in front of its home crowd at Estadio Ciudad de México.
“We’ve seen how unity is indestructible and very powerful,” he said. “That unity, in such difficult moments like the earthquakes of 1985 and 2017, has strengthened our bonds as a society, as Mexicans. Now, football unites us.”
Widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most influential rock bands, Caifanes is known for timeless songs including “La Negra Tomasa” and “Mátenme Porque Me Muero.” Earlier this year, Billboard ranked the group at No. 7 on its list of The 50 Best Latin Rock Bands of All Time. The band is also scheduled to perform at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City on July 11.
