Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona has drawn criticism for his public enthusiasm for the Mexican national soccer team during the World Cup, particularly in contrast to his limited engagement with the U.S. men's team. Kelly recently posted photos on social media of himself wearing a Team Mexico jersey at a watch party in Tucson for the Mexico vs. England match, expressing excitement for the event.
"Lots of people out in Tucson to watch Mexico take on England. Tucson and La Rosa sure know how to do the World Cup!" Kelly tweeted, accompanied by images of himself at the gathering. The match saw England defeat Mexico 3-2.
Critics pointed out that Kelly has made scarce public mention of the U.S. men's national team on his social media platforms. His engagement with the U.S. team reportedly included a June 25 tweet where he admitted he was not typically a soccer fan, stating, "I watch the NFL, the NBA, a little bit of Major League Baseball, hockey and the UFC, but soccer has never really been my thing." He added that he planned to watch the U.S. men's team "hopefully" beat Turkey.
In contrast, Kelly's apparent support for the Mexican team has been more visible. His attendance at the watch party and his attire were noted as a significant display of support, especially given his prior comments about his limited interest in soccer. This has led to accusations of bandwagoning and a lack of patriotic commitment to the U.S. team from some observers.