Losing hurts. Just ask any young child as they temper-tantrum their way through a devastating hide-and-go-seek defeat. Losing gets easier as we mature, of course. That is, unless you’re really, really invested in something, like, say, the World Cup.
It’s not uncommon for the camera to pan in on emotional fans of the losing soccer team after the final whistle blows. But as the winning fans celebrate yet another chance of watching their heroes lift the trophy, what happens to the losers?
Well, popular dairy-free brand Oatly wants them to take their broken hearts and tear-streaked faces to Compay Café in the La Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. Well, actually, it’s not called Compay Café anymore; it’s called the Losers Café. And there, after every game, you’ll find the flag of the losing team hanging outside, a free coffee, and napkins that read “dry your tears.”
Rocio de la Cuadra Diaz, market developer for Oatly Mexico, explained: “The concept of creating a café for losers in Mexico made sense because we almost always lose.”
Compay Café
How to mourn a World Cup loss: Dairy-free coffee and vegan food
It’s tongue-in-cheek, but smart. After all, this is the biggest World Cup ever, with nearly 50 teams taking part, and only one can win. Most will find themselves in the losers’ club at some point, and when that happens, Oatly and Compay Café owner Ian Infante will be ready to welcome them with open arms.
In fact, when one South African supporter visited the Losers Café after her national team lost to Canada, she described it as “like a hug for the heart after losing,” per the Independent.
Infante said that while people were confused about the concept at first, they soon embraced the idea in the spirit it was intended. “People were saying, ‘I’m not a loser.’ But once we explained how it works, they understood it and began to enjoy it more, feeling a bit more connected to defeat,” he said.
Losers Café aside, fans looking for dairy-free milk and plant-based food in Mexico City, which is also a World Cup host, have plenty of options.
In fact, the thriving capital is home to no less than 150 vegetarian and vegan restaurants, according to Happy Cow. Intrigued? Follow travel guide and journalist Dianelys Fuentes’, as she journeys through the city for VegNews to vegan taquerias and even a plant-based seafood restaurant.
“Despite many changes, Mexico City manages to shine through its history and traditions—and now its vegan food scene,” Fuentes wrote. “Anyone visiting is in for a delicious treat.”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
