Mexico, Motivation, Effort as Heart

Yes, It Can Be Done

¡Sí se puede!, “Yes, it can be done!”, is the chant of Mexican crowds when a result is not going their way. In September 2026, Crónica wrote that fans use it mostly “cuando un resultado no se siente favorable” (when a result does not feel favorable).

The phrase began in the labor movement. In May 1972, César Chávez fasted in Phoenix, Arizona, against a state law that restricted farmworker unions. When local leaders said that it could not be done, Dolores Huerta answered “Sí, se puede.” According to El Imparcial, Mexican fans first used it as a sports chant in 1997, cheering a Little League team from Guadalupe, Nuevo León, at the World Series in Williamsport. (Video in Spanish.)

In 2026, a second chant joined it. Crónica credits ¿Y si sí?, “And what if yes?”, to Efraín Juárez, then coach of Pumas. It spread among the national team’s fans during the World Cup. Xataka México wrote that the phrase does not try to build confidence from nothing. It suggests that there are already reasons to believe.

Let’s Imagine Great Things

Before the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández was asked in an ESPN interview with the journalist David Faitelson about Mexico’s chances in a group where Germany was the favorite. His answer spread in memes: “¡Imaginémonos cosas chingonas, carajo!” (Let’s imagine damn great things, damn it!). After Mexico beat South Korea 2-1 in the group stage, he returned to the idea. In 2023, the striker Santiago Giménez revived the phrase in an interview with ESPN. (Video in Spanish.)

Played with Heart

On July 5, 2026, England beat Mexico 3-2 in the round of 16 of the World Cup, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Afterward, coach Javier Aguirre said that any criticism should go to the coach, because the players had given everything on the field. He praised the many players “que jugaron con el corazón” (who played with heart). Then he said goodbye to the national team and to the Estadio Azteca. (Video in Spanish.)

Recognition

In June 2022, IDC Online reported a survey by the job site OCC Mundial for its Termómetro Laboral. According to the report, 28 percent of the people surveyed would quit their job only because they received no recognition at work. Eighteen percent would quit for lack of salario emocional, emotional salary. Sixty percent said that consecutive raises would keep people from leaving. The report gives no sample size.

By Force

A fuerzas, ni los zapatos entran. “By force, not even shoes go on.” The Mexican site Grupo Animal cites the saying in a list of popular sayings about food. It uses it for situations where it is better to wait calmly than to force a process.

Give It Your All

Échale ganas, literally “throw desire at it,” is a very common Mexican encouragement. It means “give it your all.” Parents say it before an exam, coaches before a match and friends after a setback.

A student who failed an exam may answer pero le eché ganas, “but I gave it my all.”