Several first-team and academy players from Mexico’s Cruz Azul and Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys left their training camps on 5 July to play an impromptu street match with children in La Huaca, a historic neighborhood in the port city of Veracruz. Mauro Zaleta and Karol Velázquez represented Cruz Azul, while Jerónimo Gómez, Valentino Acuña, Faustino Piotti and Alejo Navarro took part for Newell’s, drawing a crowd along the Callejón de Toña la Negra as they kicked a ball around with local youngsters. Both clubs are in Veracruz for the International Football Cup pre-season tournament. Cruz Azul advanced to the final after a 1–0 win over Colombia’s Once Caldas, whereas Newell’s fell 1–0 to Mexico’s Mazatlán FC and will contest the third-place match. The spontaneous kick-about, captured on video by local media, was welcomed by residents as a rare chance for children to interact directly with professional players ahead of the weekend fixtures.