Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat, drew significant criticism from conservative commentators and social media users after attending a World Cup watch party in Tucson wearing a Mexico soccer jersey. The incident occurred on Sunday, when Senator Kelly shared photos on X of himself and his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, at the event, where fans gathered to watch Mexico compete against England.
"An American senator should not wear another nation’s jersey while the United States is competing in the same tournament." — Steve Cortes, Former Trump Adviser
Senator Kelly's post included the caption: "Lots of people out in Tucson to watch Mexico take on England. Tucson and La Rosa sure know how to do the World Cup." The images depicted the senator in a green Mexico national team jersey, alongside his wife. This public display quickly ignited a strong backlash from various conservative figures, who questioned the appropriateness of an American senator wearing another nation's sports apparel, especially while the United States was also participating in the tournament.
Among the prominent critics was OutKick founder and Fox News contributor Clay Travis, who responded on X by writing, "Surprised you weren’t wearing an Iran jersey, senator." Conservative commentator @catturd2 labeled Kelly a "traitor," while @GuntherEagleman described the Arizona Democrat as "a disgrace to America." CNN political commentator Scott Jennings also weighed in, stating, "Modern Democratic Party: wear another country’s jersey and post a photo of yourself taking a photo of yourself." Steve Cortes, a former adviser to President Trump, articulated a policy-focused criticism, arguing that an American senator should not wear another nation’s jersey while the United States is competing in the same tournament.
The World Cup match itself saw England defeat Mexico 3-2 in a game characterized by intense action, including a red card, two penalty kicks, and multiple lead changes. Following England's victory, social media criticism directed at Senator Kelly continued, with one widely circulated AI-generated image depicting England captain Harry Kane in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement uniform, accompanied by the caption: "Hope he enjoyed watching Mexico get deported from the World Cup," a clear reference to Kelly's attendance at the watch party.
Senator Kelly’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the criticism, according to reports from The Daily Mail. The senator, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former NASA astronaut, currently serves as a senior senator from Arizona. He has previously faced scrutiny from conservative circles regarding his political stances and public actions. Earlier this year, Kelly participated in a video alongside several other Democratic lawmakers, which encouraged military members to question what they perceived as unlawful orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Pentagon officials. While supporters defended the message as upholding service members' duty to follow only lawful orders, critics accused the lawmakers of undermining military leadership and chain of command.
It is worth noting that Senator Kelly was not the sole public official observed wearing non-U.S. soccer apparel during the World Cup tournament. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, reportedly attended World Cup events earlier in the competition wearing customized "New York City" jerseys instead of Team USA apparel, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Arizona, a border state, is home to one of the nation’s largest Mexican-American populations. Cities like Tucson have long-standing cultural and sporting ties with neighboring Mexico, a relationship often highlighted and celebrated during international soccer competitions. This cultural context often sees residents of the region expressing support for both the U.S. and Mexican national teams, reflecting the area's diverse heritage and cross-border connections. The incident involving Senator Kelly underscores the varying interpretations of national loyalty and cultural expression in the context of international sporting events, particularly for elected officials representing diverse constituencies.
