Actor Diego Luna on World Cup Heartbreak, Diego Maradona, and Football’s Cultural Power 06/04/26

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2:01Start planning your journey at meninblazers.com backslash cityguides. You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network, suboptimal radio. When you say heartbroken, you cannot break a heart that is already broken. That match with Germany was stolen from us. Come on. Let's hear it. Who's winning this 2026 World Cup? Mexico. Why are you laughing?

2:32My guest today is a football-obsessed human wonder who's literally grown up in front of an international audience showcasing a truly Rodri-like versatility in movies from the acclaimed Itú Mama Tambian, Netflix's contraband-fuelled Narcos Mexico, and almost a decade in the Star Wars universe as Cassian Andor, Rogue One and Andor, a character who's been commemorated in at least three separate action figures, his latest movie on Netflix, Mexico 86. I don't like to be hyperbolic, maybe even better than the World Cup itself. He's also proper, proper football. Here today to talk about the upcoming World Cup and why Mexico's going to win.

3:14It's a joy to welcome back. It's Mr. Diego Luna. Hey, Roger. Thank you so much. What a beautiful introduction, my friend. Diego, it's so great to be with you. We are on the eve of the World Cup as we speak. How is the excitement levels between zero and ten? Oh, ten already. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. For us, teams that we don't get to win the World Cup, we start in excitement and then it goes down. It's the other way around the other nine teams that have won the cup and understand what it is to actually get to the end. We don't. So for us, the World Cup starts like three years before, right? With getting the ticket to it.

3:55For us this time, the ticket was given because we are organizers. And yeah, I'm excited. I'm very excited. Where were you going to be for that first match? Mexico City famed, the Stadio Azteca, Mexico hosting for the first time in 40 years against South Africa. They'll kick off. Where will you be and who will you watch with? I think I'll try to be at the stadium because it's one thing people don't know is that it's the only stadium in the planet that will be hosting the opening ceremony for the third time. It's not just the same country, but the same stadium, which also talks about my country.

4:35The biggest and the best stadium is the one we have since the 70s. But it's going to be interesting. And I don't know if I'm going to make it to the stadium. But if not, I'll be around my family and hoping. Also, because it's an opening match that happened already, right? This is the second time these two teams meet on an opening match. It's quite an event to come. I mean, it is the joy of this tournament. are just the levels of storytelling, history, humanity that are all trapped within each and every game. And we'll talk more, much more, about both Valtteri and the World Cup in a second. But since you last came on to talk about your football love in general and your obsession with the mighty Pumas in particular, you've had an incredible run of performances.

5:22A revered Narcos Mexico. You're nine years in the Star Wars universe playing the quite complicated Cassian Andor, starting with the film Rogue One and then prequel-ing Andor. Diego, when you spend that much of your life inhabiting a character, nine years living him, does it carry over into your real life? Does part of Diego Luna live in Cassian Andor and part of Andor in you? Definitely, definitely. There's no other way, you know. At least what I do requires conviction. You have to believe and trust in what you're doing, you know. There's no way to stand in front of the cameras or put a costume if there's no strong connection with yourself.

6:04And with Andor, it was beautiful because I was very, very happy to be part of Rogue One. And I thought that was it. And then they asked me to go back and revisit the character, but to find out who he was. There was a lot of mystery around that character in the film. And we got to tell the full story of his life, basically, on 24 episodes, two seasons. And I got to work with the amazing Tony Gilroy, who's a fantastic writer, director, the best. And he loves complex characters. He loves to live in the gray areas to show contrast. and we decided to take the task on doing the most human Star Wars possible, you know, like a Star Wars piece that would feel really close to you as audience, to the world you're living.

6:59And it got, in fact, too close, you know, it got too close. But that's the beauty of science fiction, you know. It allows you to tell stories that kind of make you reflect on your own, you know. and that was Andor for me. Spike Lee says that he knows his character so deeply even though what brand of toothpaste they use. Do you know what brand of toothpaste Cassian Andor uses? I mean, when there was a round, you know, because life was difficult. But yes, it's a character I know perfectly. It's a character today I could write about. That's one thing you have to do as an actor, you know? Even if your role is short, you have to fill the blank spaces.

7:41that's also the beautiful thing of being an actor you get to write everything that's not written and Cassian was a man that was forced to migrate he was a character that wasn't allowed to stay where he belonged and had to build that belonging over and over many times to the point where belonging was fighting and fighting for people to have the opportunities he didn't have So it's quite a remarkable character also. He's an arm and hammer guy. Your next film, Mexico 86, is coming out one week before the World Cup on the mighty Netflix. You play a really fascinating character, Martin de la Torre, a Mexican bureaucrat involved in the country's very real efforts to become World Cup host after the tournament's original destination, Colombia, had to withdraw late in the cycle.

8:381986, we both lived it. It was an incredible World Cup, one of the most definitive, to be honest, of my entire life. What made you decide to lean in and make a football film when football films are so bloody hard to do well? Well, because this is about what happens behind football. You know, we don't spend time showing you the way Maradona played that year. I mean, we have bits and pieces for you to connect with your own memories, you know. But the idea is not to do a film about the football. It's about what needs to happen for football to be what it is today, which is much more than just a game or a sport.

9:17If you understand and analyze football, you understand politics, you understand society, you understand what happens between countries. And also we go back to the 80s. For me, a very interesting time in Mexican history. So it's quite fascinating to find out how Mexico got to be the first country to organize a World Cup for the second time. And it has a lot of relevance today that we are the only country organizing it for the third time. You know, there's a lot of connections between that World Cup and this one. And I think 86 is one important one because it's when the event growed in a way that it's getting out of control.

10:02it became a business then you know it was like it stopped being just this sports event the amount of teams grow dramatically i think uh to it was when it grew to 24 i think commercially it became just a global billboard visible from outer space 86 is really the first one that fused television commerciality global mega brands and football and the film shows you how important it It was the biggest chain of television in Mexico back then in order to deliver that, right? Televisa. Televisa was pretty much organizing the World Cup. And yeah, a company that was meant to do television suddenly got really involved with the making of the World Cup.

10:48And it became a show in many ways, you know, and also for the city and the country, but mainly the city was very important. We had an earthquake in 1985 that destroyed a good portion of the city. It was a huge catastrophe, a terrible tragedy for many, many thousands of families, you know, lost everything. And the city rebuilt as much as it could to receive the World Cup. And so it's fascinating what it means for Mexico socially. And it's the most important World Cup for me because it's the first one I witnessed. audience you know it wasn't a match i want to get to that because ultimately you've just given us the levels of this enormous tournament the commercial level the cultural and social manifestation with the earthquake the rebuild mexico projecting itself out to the world and then the very personal you were like what six seven years old when the tournament started and the game you went to was at the italy france game round of 16 and you've said about it it was the game that turned you into a huge football fan?

11:55It was, definitely. And it happened at the stadium of my team, you know, of Pumas. It was in Seú, this Olympic stadium that is gorgeous. It's a piece of art. It's beautiful. Where the Olympics were done decades before, it was beautiful as I remember it. But so many things happened, right? I mean, Maradona with that amazing goal, the hand of God happened there. An incredible moment, an incredible branding by Diego Maradona. Also instant branding. What a man. What a man and what a moment and what it meant politically. That's why I think there is a lot of stories to be told. But from that angle, you know, it's like what that goal means, if you analyze it, just like in terms of the match is one thing, but what it means, the Malvinas and what it meant for Argentinians to be in front of the English team and score that goal, but then also score the most beautiful goal.

12:58in the history of World Cups, that amazing goal where Maradona takes the ball and runs, you know, more than half of the pitch and leaves everyone behind and scores himself and makes everyone go nuts. That's when the legend, you know, was born. And many other things happened in that World Cup. Many, I mean, Mexico suddenly showed the world that it was ready to play with the best, you know. Before that, if you see how Mexico did in World Cups, it's depressing. But that one was like so spectacular. I mean, that match with Germany was stolen from us. I mean, come on. That's how they do it. They steal from Mexico.

13:39They steal from the United States. God bless them. And that Maradona moment, it was. It was like the first goal of just an arch pickpocket. the second goal of just a master transcendent. I mean, it was just football Michelangelo-esque. And just listening to you talk about both of these things, I want to talk more about Mexico and their World Cup arc in a second. But I just wrote a book about the World Cup. Listening to you, the memories I've made in my life watching it, it sounds the same for you. They're amongst the most powerful of my life. And millions of football mad fans like us around the world.

14:16The World Cup is both a history of moments and also a shared text which creates deep, deep connections, not just to football, but to our own individual past. I bet you when you're thinking about Mexico 86, you can think about being six-year-old Diego. It's almost a biography of your childhood, a way to mark the passing of time. Do you feel that? Do you feel that power? Definitely. Imagine what it means, you know, for Mexicans as audience, as part of the fans. We had the opportunity in the 70s, you know, to watch it. Then those who had the opportunity to be there with their parents got to be in 86 with their kids, you know.

15:01And now they get the chance to be there with their, you know, kids with grandparents and parents in between. Like, it's crazy. It's three generations. This is a World Cup I'm going to be celebrating with my kids. When I think about 86, I think about my father. and when I think about my father, I think about the stories he told me about the 70 World Cup. So it's fascinating, you know, how it becomes a mark in your life, you know, if you're a fan, if you're part of that huge amount of people that actually follows football, it's quite an amazing way to picture your life, you know, because it always happens around people you love.

15:44There's always excitement, there's always passion involved, And I think football teaches us a lot about our behavior. It teaches us also a lot about what we know and don't know about the world. There's so many questions you make after seeing, you know, the schedule, you know, who are these people? Why are they in the World Cup? Who did they beat to be in the World Cup? suddenly connects you, you know, with the rest. And I think, well, at least for me, a big part of my own narrative is based on football, you know. You and me both. I mean, just hearing you talk, relive the Germany-Mexico game, does capture the reality that when you watch football, you experience the all-consuming rollercoaster of human emotions.

16:36You experience joy, hope, agony, exhilaration, disaster, stress, things that I always laugh that normal people feel in real life, but I'm dead to inside. It is like the greatest movie ever, Diego, hearing you talk about it. It's like Scorsese level cinema parceled out 90 minutes at a time. Thank you very much, man. Imagine it's a story where like recently we beat Germany on a World Cup. If I tell you that story, oh, we beat Germany means a lot. Obviously, Germany is the team who normally, but if I tell you, well, we beat a team that in 86, we thought we were about to beat, that we were actually winning and they took a goal away from us.

17:20You know, they stole us the match. We had to go to penalties. Like, so suddenly that win, that recent win we had with Germany, you know, is charged of so much history. And that's what we do in filmmaking, right? We want you to see a moment that it means much more than what you're just seeing. And football is always that because teams bring something else, you know, into the equation. And when you talk about national teams, it relates to everything, you know, to all your sense of belonging, you know, and you bring all of that into a match. So as I told you, I'm in the most excited moment then we'll we'll see the first game and i'll go like well yeah let's talk about that i love the hope you build and how quickly that hope gets absolutely desiccated i do also love by the way how 2018 mexico were avenging you know the shattered dreams for 1986 diego luna that small child who watches heroes go toe-to-toe with germany uh only to have their hearts broken But let me say, let me interrupt you, because when you say heartbroken, you cannot break a heart that is already broken.

18:38It gets like completely broken once, you know, and then it's about something else. It's about getting there. It's about how good you do. It's about the little details that happen in a match, you know. We, teams that are used to be kicked out in the first rounds, we enjoy the game for many reasons, probably that the big teams don't even witness, don't even leave, don't even see, that they completely ignore, you know. There's beautiful details in a game that suddenly make it for you and that give you enough joy to be there the next time. I love this. Once the football heart is broken, according to Diego Luna, it can never be repaired.

19:23and once it is broken, then you are reduced to enjoying the details because that hope is shattered. You're very different to, say, English fans. I know I sound English by cheer for the United States now, but English fans always believe they're going to win the World Cup. They have their heart broken. They piece it back together from a million pieces just in time for four years later for it to shatter it again. How would you play with Mexico? When was the last time that you watched the World Cup and thought, OK, this is going to be our year, our tournament, because Americans, we do make ourselves believe that we're going to win it all.

19:56It's what Americans do. Well, yeah, but yeah. You won't complete that sentence, Diego Luna. I'm going to be very careful and respectful. But the few of you that you're describing, yeah, you might have that because of your experience in other sports. Are you trying not to say the words gross self-deception?

20:25thank you for saying that no basically I would tell you this I think the the beautiful thing about football is that is 90 minutes of a dance that shows you what you're capable of you know it's about collaboration it's about like being all for a team understanding there's something bigger than your own success, you know. It doesn't matter if you miss the penalty, if you win at the end. And if you miss the penalty that makes you lose, it doesn't matter because you had the courage to take it. There is always something to celebrate, you know, of what happens on the pitch, not necessarily the win. I think that's what I've learned, you know.

21:14I get very excited, but I understand the limitations of our team. And I think many times in those limitations is where you find the strength. Our teams are always very compact. They play beautifully together because they are there for each other. They understand that things can go wrong. I don't know what it is to play in a team where you give the ball to Lionel Messi and you understand basically that the ball won't be lost. We don't have that feeling. Here, whoever has the ball, everyone is around, ready, you know, to recover the ball if you lose it. That kind of, that sense of camaraderie, of teamwork, of...

22:00Of fight. Of being there for the other, you know? I mean, ultimately, that's what we look for. This is the life of being an Everton fan. All I ask for is just five passes strung together within those 90 minutes and I go home a very happy man. but I've got to ask Mexico have South Africa South Korea all the Souths what a game that will be by the way and Chechia in the opening round your team have been up and down they've had probably the best performance they've had under their coach against Belgium recently in a tie how are you really feeling going to this tournament let me even ask you this is a question I think is not how you think so it'll be interesting to hear your answer what gives you the most optimism I mean there is that that very famous phrase right those three teams won't be playing 11 they would be playing against 12 and that 12th player is that stadium you know that stadium that atmosphere those fans and the energy of Mexican football fans I think that's going to play a big deal in these matches but they're not easy matches they're not easy matches at all you know uh there's no easy matches in in world cups uh anymore uh you you see it you see it in the cups also you know in england you see it i mean suddenly uh you don't have to be in the premier league to win a match and suddenly these huge teams get shocked by those who are in front that play like no other team plays because they have something the others don't have, which is that hunger of becoming, you know.

23:33We all dream of being Morocco, Diego. I mean, why never Mexico, Morocco? Why never the United States, Morocco is a question that, I mean, they delighted the world. It was ecstasy to watch them, but why never us is, I mean, it's a profound question, I think for every US fan, I don't know if the Mexican fans ask themselves that. You've got incredible players. Armando Jormiga Gonzalez, last year's Liga MX Golden Boot winner. The quite electric Gilberto Mora, El Chico Estrella, 17, could become Mexico's youngest ever World Cup player. Amazing kid. Amazing. Give us a blast on him. Go on. He's something different, you know, but he's 17.

24:14When we watch him playing, we have to understand he's 17 and he doesn't play in La Liga, you know. He's not where Yamal plays. Like he's in the Mexican league, but you can tell. I mean, you can tell in the recent World Cup, I think it was under 20. He played the World Cup and the way he played, he looked more mature than anyone around. So we have, I think the most spectacular story, the most exciting and emotional and breathtaking story, I would say, is Jimenez. You know, our striker that is 30-something, the best penalty scorer in the Premier League. No one has scored so many penalties on a row.

24:57He's just unique. And humanly remarkable to rebound from the agony of the severe injury. 125 caps, 44 goals. You're very modestly not talking to me about Memo Martinez from your beloved Pumas. You've also got Memo Ochoa, sixth straight World Cup. I mean, lifetime achievement, Oscar worthy that. Yes, yes. That also is always something I am very tentative to celebrate because that happens in teams where there's no newcomers, you know. No succession planning. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You remember Samuel Eto 'o, for example. He wasn't a goalkeeper. He was a striker playing at the front, you know, having to run and chase the ball, still playing with his national team.

25:45we have Tim Ream playing centre-back he's 67 years of age look if you have to name the four most iconic players for Mexico that you've seen who you love the most in your heart that broken heart who's on that list and why? I would say Hugo Sanchez definitely well that was the time and the place 86 Hugo Sanchez but sadly with Hugo the best of him at least that I got to see was always in Real Madrid you know He could never deliver in the national team. Then the national team wasn't invited because of a corruption scandal into Italy in 1990. Yeah, we were not at the World Cup and I think we had the best team.

26:32Or that's a story we want to, you know. Save that for Netflix for the next World Cup. It's going to be the sequel. It's so great. There's a little bit of that. Yeah, a hint of that. That was crazy. But Hugo Sanchez, Hugo Sanchez. But then I would say Rafa Marquez. Oh, what a powerhouse. What a wonder and a terror from an American perspective in equal measure. And I would say Rafa Marquez, Rafa Marquez, Rafa Marquez. I think there is no other story like Rafa's, you know. And being the most successful player of a country when you play defense. I mean, it also talks about the country. It also talks about our team, but it's not easy to shine when you're a center defender, you know, it's not easy to shine.

27:24And he shined beautifully in Monaco. He shined beautifully in Barcelona and with the national team. That's why I put him at the top. Every shirt he put on, he delivered. And then there's many others that I really like. Obviously, the story of Chicharito in the Premier League was special. We have a midfielder that was always playing for modest teams, but was amazing. Guardado. What an intelligent footballer. You can tell that exact thing, that he was very intelligent. I think it's Pep Guardiola, Mourinho, when they had to play his teams, they would talk about him in the press conferences, always about him and what he brought to the teams he played for.

28:14in 2008 you directed a documentary about mexican boxing legend julio cesar chavez it's an incredible film you said boxing was one of two sports along with marathon running that mexico was good at and you talked about they both need hunger and you said that mexico struggles in the football field because that sport requires communication understanding working as a team and you said we are crap at that yes when you are when you watch out tree now almost two decades later does that still ring true no i mean compare i guess to other teams we don't tend to deliver great numbers in sports that are about the collective you know uh but i think i think football and uh when we play against the big teams we deliver because there's something else coming there.

29:07You know, something very special happens when Mexico plays Germany, Brazil, Argentina. The problem is that it's never enough. We always get almost there. And I hope this World Cup will deliver something different. We might. But if we don't, I'll be celebrating what is there to celebrate, you know, because there'll be more than plenty. You are a remarkable fan. You are a mix of passion and deep, deep pragmatism. This man, Diego Luna, does not want to get hurt again. Quick one I have to ask. Last year, you met the other Diego Luna, our friend, football Diego Luna, U.S. Men's National Team cult hero.

29:46I think it was at an Andor-related event. If you had to change places with Diego Luna in life, who would be better at doing the other's job? Football Diego Luna acting in Star Wars or acting Diego Luna playing for the U.S. Men's National Team? Look, I am a crappy player. Very, very committed. I started as a forward. Now I play in defense or even if I get to play because my body is, it aches before I get on the pitch. But I'll tell you one thing. I'll definitely change with him. So he gets to play for the Mexican team. I'll be open, you know, to say like, OK, I'll take your job there if you commit to playing in the Mexico national team.

30:36You're a tough negotiator. You know, he named his own son Manolo after a character you voiced in The Book of Life. Oh, that's so sweet. You do. And he's a very, very nice man. He's a very good player. But he's not around the right people because he chose to play for the US and not Mexico. I mean, this passion for Mexico, the world is going to sense that. The world is going to live it. The world's going to descend upon your city, Mexico City. What do you want people to experience as the essence of Mexico City? And most importantly, where should they, what is Diego Luna's go-to spot? I'll tell you where they have to go.