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They lost 2-nil to Mexico on Sunday but the Belize National Football Team’s road to the World Cup isn’t finished. Sunday’s game in Houston was Belize’s home game and on Saturday it will be on Mexico’s turf. It will be held in Monterrey, Mexico and at a stadium bigger than Houston’s Reliant. The team is still in Houston and began practicing today. Keith Swift has that story and he’ll ask Bertie Chimilio the question every one’s been asking: show me the money.

Keith Swift Reporting,
We all trembled with pride as our national anthem played at a packed Reliant Stadium on Sunday afternoon. And after 90 minutes of play, Team Belize defended the jewel competently – losing 2-0. And inside the locker room they were treated like winners, receiving love from family members and a pep talk from Sports Minister Marcel Cardona.

Hon. Marcel Cardona, Minister of Sports
“You sent out loud and clear a message not only to the young children and young people of Belize but to all the world. You sent that message today.”

But truth is – the team lost and their pride was wounded and spirits dampened.

Shane Orio, Team Captain
“We lost two to nothing, gave up a late minute penalty and the first goal was no kind of marking.”

Ian Gaynair, Team Member
“I am really sad, I am really sad to see my team struggle and work so hard and on the end give up a goal like that. But nevertheless, we worked hard. I am still proud of my guys.”

Danny Jimenez, Team Member
“The game was an intense game but I thought if I had gotten more time, I could have bring in more pressure because I sat down on the bench and watched changes I could have made in the game. I just think the coach gave me little time and I feel like not playing a next game but I won’t do it for the coach, I will do it for Belize.”

And they will do it for Belize on Saturday in Monterrey – that’s Mexican territory. These players say changes will have to be made.

Keith Swift,
What will be your mindset going into Mexico next week?

Shane Orio,
“That they will be home and they will pressure us strong from the first minute. Today they gave us the first part of the field to start playing and I think next week will be totally different. But they will be calm because they have a 2-0 lead and they will expect us to attack them more and open and then they will come attack us.”

Charlie Slusher, Team Member
“It is Mexico we will be playing. I read in the paper they are ranked 14th in the world now so it is definitely a big team and a country we are against.”

Ryan Simpson, Team Member
“We know we have a next game in Monterrey today and we saw today what the Mexicans have and they didn’t see all that we have. So going into Monterrey, we are more confident than we were coming into this game today.”

Danny Jimenez,
“I will play in Mexico and bring in the same pain like I brought in just now.”

Ian Mork, Coach
“I just want them to relax and play the game they’ve been playing their whole lives. They are all footballers, they are all competitive, and they want to win. So they need to just go out with the confidence and a feeling of unity and belief in themselves and the results will take care of themselves.”

Danny Jimenez,
“I don’t really want to get into the coaching staff thing but if he had given some of the players who went in like for five minutes to ten minutes more time, I think we would have played a better game. We can go in and change a game, we need our time to change the game if they want us to change that game.”

It is a game that millions watched but which fifty thousand people paid to see. But if you want him to show you the money - Football Federation of Belize President Bertie Chimilio says there is none - at least not yet.

Dr. Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
“This is Belize’s moment whether we like it or not so it doesn’t bother me.”

Keith Swift,
There are those who say a packed stadium will mean only one thing to you, more money.

Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“It is unfortunate that you have people trying to cast aspersions. Nobody knows how FFB got where it is. At least we at FFB, we go to the bank and borrow and we pay. After all expenses are accounted, we have to come here. This hotel is not cheap, even though we got it at a special rate, we have to pay flights to go to Monterrey, and we have to pay our hotel. So after all the expenses have been made then it is going to be a split between us and the marketing company.

Really it all depends on ticket sales. We are hoping we can get our fifty thousand plus and with that the marketing company can get its part and we at the FFB can get our party.”

Reporting for 7NEWS from Houston, Keith Swift.

The team leaves Houston for Monterrey tomorrow. They return to Houston on Sunday and then fly back to Belize. The players reportedly received $2,000 each for the game against St. Kitts. No word yet on how much money they will receive for the Belize-Mexico series.