While Mexico’s soccer players are lauded for their heroics on the field, the army of fans that followed the team to Brazil face media scrutiny for using a popular chant that is regarded by many as a gay slur.

Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff has promised a “spectacular and safe” World Cup but authorities are braced for widespread social unrest that threatens to cast a dark shadow over the event.

More than 250 soccer fans who traveled to the World Cup in Brazil on a package deal turned up for their flight at Recife Airport on Wednesday to discover that the tour operator had a failed to book their charter plane home.

It may not be hugely popular in the United States or Canada, but the rest of the world will hunker down for the next four weeks as El Mundial (World Cup 2014) explodes in Brazil on June 12, promising an orgy of jingoistic passion centered around 22 players running hell for leather trying to kick a round ball into a net.

Even hardened soccer skeptics are being reluctantly drawn into the ballyhoo of World Cup 2014, whose first week provided a slew of exciting games, goals and dramatic climaxes, as well as fine performances by the Mexican and U.S. teams.

The Jalisco Education Department (SEP) will allow teachers to bring televisions into their classrooms so students can watch Mexico’s World Cup games.

Mexican and U.S. soccer fans suffered heartache this week after both teams made dignified exits from the 2014 World Cup round of 16. 

Around 5,000 delirious green-jerseyed, flag-waving fans made a beeline for Guadalajara’s Minerva traffic circle Monday afternoon after the Mexican soccer team advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup following a decisive 3-1 victory over Croatia.