For Agustin Flores, the World Cup is not only experienced in front of a television screen. It is also felt in the aisles of his store, among jerseys from Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, Scotland, Morocco, and many other countries, as customers walk in looking for the colors of the team they love.
Flores was born in Veracruz, Mexico, and has lived in Tulsa for 27 years. Over time, he has become a well-known figure in the local Latino community. He is a businessman, the owner of Chinese restaurants, and of Independent Sports, a sports store at 12650 E. 31st Street, where he says customers can find everything related to the World Cup.
“We want everyone to leave with the jersey they are looking for,” Flores said.
During the World Cup, his store becomes more than a business. It turns into a meeting place for fans from different backgrounds, each one carrying a flag, a memory, and the hope of seeing their team go far. For Flores, that movement represents not only a business opportunity but also a sign of the support and strength of Tulsa’s Hispanic community.
“Thanks to the Latinos of Tulsa, who are the ones who support our businesses. We have fans from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Scotland, Morocco, all looking for their jersey. On behalf of Independent Sports, thank you, and good luck to everyone,” he said.
Flores dreams of seeing his business continue to grow and hopes to expand into wholesale. But beyond sales, he sees the World Cup as an event that could transform the way soccer is viewed in the United States.
“The World Cup is the best thing that could have happened to the United States. Soccer here was in crisis, and this is going to make more young people want to dedicate themselves to the sport,” he said.
He also believes the United States will be one of the countries that benefits the most from the tournament, not only because of the number of games hosted on American soil, but also because of the economic activity generated by an event of this scale.
“The country that will benefit the most economically from the World Cup is the United States, because it is the country with the most games and the greatest economic impact,” Flores said.
As a proud Mexican, Flores is closely following Mexico’s national team. He celebrates the fact that Mexico has opened a World Cup for the third time and trusts the work of Javier Aguirre and Rafael Márquez.
“Mexico has a good team. It opened a third World Cup, and we hope to be among the best eight teams in the world. Aguirre and Márquez are a good duo,” he said.
Flores is also willing to make his predictions. He believes the United States can reach the top eight and thinks the champion could come from Spain, France or Portugal. As for Argentina, the current world champion, he acknowledges its place in history, although he believes other teams may be showing a higher level right now.
“Argentina is the current champion, that cannot be denied, but there are other teams with a better level, such as France, Spain, Morocco and Brazil,” he said.
For Flores, the first games of the tournament are only the beginning.
“The first two games of the opening round are difficult to judge because many teams are still finding themselves, but after the third game, that is when the good part begins,” he explained.
Still, beyond the scores, predictions, and rivalries, the World Cup has a deeper meaning at Independent Sports. It is an excuse to gather, talk about soccer, remember one’s country of origin, and celebrate a passion that crosses borders.
“This is the store of the Hispanics, the biggest sports store in Tulsa and the surrounding areas,” Flores said.
For many immigrants, a jersey is never just a jersey. It is memory, pride, and belonging. It is a way of saying, even far from home, where we come from and who we cheer for.
“We are Latinos, we are workers, nothing worries us. We always face challenges head-on,” Flores said.
And before saying goodbye, he left his World Cup shout: “Long live Mexico, cañones!”
This article was originally published by La Semana. You can see the original story here.