As fans around the world tune in to the World Cup and celebrate Lionel Messi's record-breaking goals, Eva Longoria reflects on what makes soccer so special: its ability to bring people together.
For Longoria, the magic of soccer extends far beyond the final score.
The actress, producer, director, and entrepreneur has long been an advocate for the sport. Her passion is not just personal. Longoria is an investor in Mexican club 'Club Necaxa' (her nickname 'La Patrona') and part of the ownership group behind Angel City FC.
© IG: Eva LongoriaThat's why she lights up when talking about the impact soccer can have on people. "I've seen what sports can do for a country," Longoria tells ¡HOLA!. "It brings people together. The pride, the joy, the hope, the celebrations in the streets. It's really incredible to watch."
Longoria shared that she's been paying attention to the connection between fans around the world, including the special bond that has developed between Korean and Mexican fans through soccer.
"Have you seen what’s going on in Mexico? The love and connection between Korea and Mexico fans is incredible. It’s reminding me that the game is so much bigger than what happens on the field," she says. "It creates community, it creates memories, and it creates moments people never forget."
That ability to unite people across cultures is one of the reasons Longoria feels so emotional about Mexico's World Cup hopes. "I love my country," she says. "So for me, seeing Mexico win would be one of the most emotional moments imaginable. When Mexico plays, you're not just watching a team. You're watching your culture, your history, your people represented on the world stage."
She pauses before adding, "And if Mexico won? Oh my God. I can't even imagine what that would feel like for so many families. It would be one of those moments people talk about for generations."
© ZUMA Press, Inc.That passion for the sport is shared throughout the Longoria household. Her husband is rooting for Mexico "100 percent," while their son Santiago has become a devoted soccer fan in his own right.
"My son's favorite player is Mbappé, so our house is definitely full of soccer conversations," she says with a laugh. "He has quite the jersey collection already. He is crazy about his jerseys, they mean something to him."
"I love seeing his excitement because that's what sports do. They inspire kids. They create dreams. They give children somebody to look up to. And they bring families together, which I love."
© Debby Wong/ZUMA Press Wire/ShutterstockEva Longoria's Tips for a Stress-Free Game Day
With the World Cup dominating conversations this summer, Longoria says the tournament has become the perfect excuse to bring people together.
"It's what everybody's doing this summer," she says. "People are gathering to watch the games, they're inviting friends over, they're spending time with family. That's what I love about it."
© Abaca PressThat focus on connection is what inspired Longoria's collaboration with Shipt, which recently launched Shipt Kits, curated bundles designed to simplify planning for occasions like World Cup watch parties and summer gatherings.
For Longoria, the World Cup is not just about the matches. It's about gathering the people you love in one place. "That's my favorite part of game day," she says. "Everybody's together. You're eating, you're talking, you're cheering. Those are the moments people remember."
As someone who entertains often, Longoria says she's learned that the best hosts are not the ones trying to do everything themselves.
Tip No. 1: Keep the planning stress-free.
"The biggest hosting tip I can give anyone is to make the planning as stress-free as possible," she says. "People get so focused on every little detail that they forget what the gathering is actually about. It's about connecting with family and friends and enjoying the moment."
Tip No. 2: Make it easy for guests to feel welcome.
"I love buffet-style setups and big platters where everybody can help themselves," she says. "When people can grab what they want, you aren't constantly serving everyone. You can actually sit down, watch the game, have a conversation, and be part of the gathering."
Tip No. 3: Never underestimate the power of good food.
"Food is always the key to a great gathering. Always. I don't care what the occasion is. People connect around food. Some of my favorite memories happen around a table."
When it comes to World Cup watch parties, Longoria already has a favorite menu item in mind.
"Recently, I told my husband, 'Why don't we make nachos? Like, full-on nachos,'" she says. "Not the quick version. I mean loaded, delicious, over-the-top nachos that everybody can gather around."
And while nachos may be her current game-day favorite, Longoria says one of the entertaining traditions she's brought home from Spain has become just as popular with guests.
© Leopoldo Smith"I love jamón from Spain," she says. "I even bought a jamonero and all the tools to serve it properly because I wanted to learn more about it. There's such an art to the tradition. Watching a cortador de jamón work is incredible." Now, she says, it's a staple at many of her gatherings. "I have jamón at so many of my parties because people love it. It always becomes the center of the table, the kind of food that brings everyone together."
As for her final piece of hosting advice for either a World Cup watch party or a casual summer get-together, Longoria keeps it simple. "It's not about everything being perfect," she says. "It's about the people. It's about being together."
