He became naturalized in order for him to play for a local soccer club in Mexico and not in order to play on the Mexico national team. Him being called to play for the national team was a happenstance and a convenient move and not a call of duty to play for one’s country. I am not doubting his talent, but rather giving an explanation for why he might not be well received to any Mexican (whether native or American-born) fan.

Native Mexican footballers play for teams all around the world, but when it comes time for “National Duty”, most (if not all) will return to Mexico to play for their country. That is what separates a National team from a local soccer club. A local soccer club can take players from all around the world and they can be bought and sold and traded at will. A national team is a sign of national pride. It’s a representation of one’s country. If any National Team suddenly became filled with non-native naturalized citizens from all over the world, then that team would cease to represent the players from that country and would focus ONLY on talent rather than origin. I have nothing against the melting pot theory, but in a country like Mexico, a lack of diverse representation within different demographic groups on the national team already exists, and to bring in someone who isn’t even of Mexican origin from either their mother or father’s sides to play due to a lack of talent is a bit of a slap in the face to fans and to Mexican soccer.

I personally like Franco. As long as he pledges his allegiance to Mexico while he’s playing for our national team, then I’ll wear his jersey and support him amidst his negative reception. However, I’d rather have a team of dedicated, native players who are willing to play for their country out of the pride and love they feel for it (regardless of how good/bad they are) than a team of non-native players who are merely there to make the team look good but take the meaning out of the term “national duty”. I root for Mexico’s team (regardless of my American birth) because my native roots are more reflective of Mexico and my family is directly from there. It’s a state of national pride that makes Mexican soccer more than just a team.

As an American born girl of Mexican origin who has had more exposure to Mexican culture than that of “American” culture, I would like it if only players of Mexican origin (not necessarily of birth) would make up most of the National team roster and the few naturalized footballers that play would be proud of Mexico as a country, rather than as merely a team they are paid to make look good when they play in the international stage.

Forgive my romantic ideals, but I think that culture does take precedence on an national team level as opposed to the other way around for a local team.

I do hope this changes, but I’d rather see demographic minorities in Mexico represented

Either that, or you’re an idiot.

As somebody who is from the Periphery of Canada, I can say that Toronto is indeed Canadian. We make jokes about the Centre of the Universe, but really, they’re just that. Jokes.

Torontonian soccer fans insist on the best of all worlds: league matches in which they can put on their Canada cap against American competition and Cup matches against only big teams in Canada.

They’d be bored stiff having to play against teams from Winnipeg and Halifax.

I’d love to see meaningful competition between US and Canadian clubs. Those games, though, should be within a conventional, traditional format, that is, a continental club championship.

I also wish to see higher profile games between the national teams. Canada, though, can’t get past the Concacaf semifinals and we’re meant to believe that coaching rather than a lack of heart is the problem.

Anyway, for an American fan to desire a US-only league through national soccer pride is not xenophobic or “Yanks first.” It’s merely traditional. It’s human nature. Or is pride now out of style?