In a remarkable display of international soccer fandom, local supporter Peticolas joined members of the Japanese fan club Ultras Nippon on an impromptu 36-hour journey from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Monterrey, Mexico, surrounding Japan’s World Cup match against Tunisia on June 18, 2026.
The trip began weeks earlier when Peticolas met Ultras Nippon members while they planned their visit to the Dallas-Fort Worth region for group viewings of Japan’s matches, including two in Arlington and the final in Monterrey. During a June 13 celebration at McCall Plaza in Plano, Texas, the fans casually mentioned an upcoming bus trip to Mexico for the Monterrey game. Peticolas seized the opportunity, asking to join. Despite initial doubts about the lengthy trip—nearly 10 hours each way—he was welcomed aboard without having to pay for tickets.
On the early morning of June 14, Peticolas, along with a few American supporters from the Dallas Beer Guardians, boarded the bus for the overnight ride. After some rest during the journey, the group stopped for breakfast at a local Mexican restaurant in Monterrey before heading to a rooftop bar popular with supporters of the home team, Rayados. Peticolas described the atmosphere as a vibrant scene filled with music, dancing, traditional food, and multiple chants, energized by the convergence of Mexican and Japanese fans.
Later, the group traveled to Estadio Monterrey, a modern stadium set against the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains and the iconic Cerro de la Silla peak. Although fans were only allowed entry three hours before kickoff, Japanese supporters were granted early access, arriving with drums, banners, and their distinctive blue plastic bags inflated and waved in rhythm. The chants and whistles persisted throughout the 90-minute match, impressing Peticolas with their intensity and continuous energy. He noted this as unlike anything he had experienced in his attendance at hundreds of soccer matches worldwide, describing the decibel level as “the loudest whistle sound of all time” and a non-stop vocal presence.
Japan secured a 4-0 victory over Tunisia. Following tradition, Japanese fans participated in a stadium clean-up, ensuring the venue was left tidier than found. Rather than stay in hotels, the group immediately boarded the return bus at 1:30 a.m. local time, beginning the long journey back to Texas. Along the way, they stopped at a Buc-ee’s convenience store, much to Peticolas’ delight.
The bus arrived back in Dallas in the mid-afternoon of June 15, just in time for Father’s Day celebrations. Reflecting on the experience, Peticolas called it a “once in a lifetime” adventure that highlighted the universal language of sport and fandom, bonding supporters across cultures and borders with shared enthusiasm and camaraderie.