Mateo Chávez: The Sunderland Match Reminded Me of the World Cup Atmosphere

AZ Alkmaar defender Mateo Chávez evaluated his team's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the UEFA Europa League. The young football player expressed that the atmosphere created by the English fans reminded him of the moments he wore the Mexico jersey at the 2026 World Cup.

Tough Match Away Against Sunderland

AZ Alkmaar were defeated 1-0 away by Sunderland in the opening match of the 2026-27 UEFA European League league phase. This match went down in history as a historic fixture in which Sunderland returned to European competitions with a victory after 53 years.

Similarity with World Cup Experience

Mexico national team's 22-year-old left-back Mateo Chávez stated in his post-match remarks that the closeness of the English spectators and the intense tempo of Premier League teams took him back to his World Cup days.

Historic World Cup Success

Chávez had scored his team's opening goal in the match played at the Estadio Azteca on June 24, where Mexico defeated Czechia 3-0. With this victory, Mexico completed the group stage with three wins out of three for the first time in World Cup history.

The Turning Point of the Match and Tactical Changes

Sunderland took the lead in the 66th minute with a penalty goal scored by Enzo Le Fée. While AZ Alkmaar applied pressure for an equalizer in the final part of the match, goalkeeper Robin Roefs preserved the score with critical saves. Chávez, on the other hand, moved to the center without a right-back in the final moments of the match due to fatigue.