It’s one of those definitive Southern California afternoons — sunny, warm with a cool, lilting breeze from the west, a perfect welcome to summer — and Daisy Mendez and her family are chilling on the grassy lot outside the Rose Bowl.

They’re tailgating ahead of a crucial FIFA Club World Cup Group E clash pitting Buenos Aires powerhouse River Plate and Mexico’s Monterrey, and the conflicting interests within are producing pointed banter. All in good fun, of course.

They’re Boca Juniors fans, all but one uncle, who’s passionately in archrival River Plate’s corner. “The black sheep of the family,” Mendez notes. All have an affinity for Monterrey, too, “more because our grandpa, who passed away a couple years ago, loved Monterrey.”

Boca is back east, laboring through an unsuccessful Group C run, and the brutal draw that awaits the Mendezes — 40 fouls, nine yellows, one red, no goals — will give River command of its path toward the billion-dollar, 32-club tournament’s knockout phase.

All of that, ultimately, is secondary.

“We’re here for the love of the game,” Mendez said. “We love to see games, go to games, even if they’re not our teams. It’s love for the sport.”

They’re readying, too, for El Salvador’s Concacaf Gold Cup showdown with rival Honduras, which will kick off in Houston right when the second half begins inside the Rose Bowl. Any other weekend, they’re in Carson to see the LA Galaxy or at BMO to support Angel City FC.

“We’re die-hard Galaxy fans,” she said. “We’ve been fans for years now, current season ticket holders, and we show up, 20 of us to barbecue and enjoy the games. Angel City as well, doing the same thing. I have some friends with LAFC, and, you know, don’t let the rival get into [the friendship]. We’re all of the sport. We’re all here to have fun and enjoy.”

That is what has resonated most deeply for Mendez across four of the first five games in Pasadena — the last Rose Bowl outing matches Monterrey, just outside a round-of-16 berth, against Japan’s already-eliminated Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday evening — she’s attended with her uncles and parents.

Daisy Mendez (third from left) and family. One uncle is a River fan. Another is a Boca fan. Daisy’s late grandfather was a Monterrey fan. Daisy (from Rosemead) speaks eloquently about the love of the game, of watching games, and of coming together with other fans. (Photo by Scott French)

“The amount of fans that have come out from all over is cool to see, you know?” she said. “Just a couple of days ago we saw PSG-Botafogo, crazy amount of people, and everybody coming together for the love of the game. We’ve witnessed a Monterrey fan, a River Plate fan, a Botafogo fan hugging it out after the game.

“That’s what it’s about. That’s what it’s about. That’s what these tournaments are about. To get to know people from around the world.”

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