Dozens of street vendors were lined up along 26th Street in Little Village Tuesday morning as fans tried to get their hands on a Mexico jersey ahead of the match against Ecuador.
"It's been a hassle," said Lourdes. "I drove to a lot of places. Called Dick's and everything was sold out. For the past month, sold out."
She was able to snag one of the last Mexico jersey's at Fieras Soccer Store.
The store's owner Pablo said he started off with 300 jerseys about two months ago.
"We sell a lot of jerseys, Mexico jerseys," he said. "As you see, I have just two left."
Those jerseys won't last long, given the excitement in the neighborhood for team Mexico. The team is already having a historic World Cup run, winning all three group games for the first time in its nation's history.
"The hopes are so high now that it's a beautiful thing," said longtime Mexico fan David, who was one of several Little Village residents donning their Mexico jerseys Tuesday.
Team Mexico fan David poses for a photo in Little Village. He said he is nervous but hopeful ahead of Mexico's match against Ecuador Tuesday night.
Carolina Garibay
He said he's been rooting for Mexico for his entire life.
"This is just normal to me, just wear the jersey, root for them again for the World Cup and see how far they go," he said.
He said while he has a lot of respect for Ecuador, he is hopeful, albeit nervous, about Mexico's chances.
"If they lose, that's it. Another four years of restructuring, another four years of blame, another four years of so many things happening for the Mexican national team," he said. "They have fútbol in their DNA. I do believe they can make it a long way into the tournament."
Christian poses for a photo with his kids in Little Village. He said his father is Ecuadorian while is mother is Mexican, so he is torn about who to root for in the Mexico-Ecuador game Tuesday night.
Carolina Garibay
For other fans like Christian, choosing between Mexico and Ecuador is not so easy.
"My father, he's Ecuadorian, he's from Quito. My mother, she's Mexican, she's from Guanajuato," he said. "I have a very strong connection with Mexico living in Little Village and being a Mexican dual citizen myself, visiting Mexico almost every year of my life. But at the same time no one loves soccer more than my father, and he's a strong Ecuador supporter."
He said while his heart says Ecuador will win tonight, the more logical part of his brain said the game is going to Mexico.
"Right now I'm wearing a Mexico jersey because I'm here in Little Village and I've got to watch my back, but I think later tonight at my parents', I'll probably be wearing an Ecuador jersey," he said.
