VOODOO DOLLS CAUSE STIR IN MEXICO-UNITED STATES SOCCER MATCHUP

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The FIFA World Cup is still a year away, but soccer fever hit the borderland Wednesday night as the United States battled rival Mexico in a qualifying round.

Since 1999, the Americans had won nine of the last 13 meetings between the two countries. So with that fresh in mind, emotions ran high at Hiney's Sports Bar and Grill in east El Paso as fans from both sides cheered at the glowing TV screens.

But this time, perhaps out of desperation, many Mexican fans were armed with a little black magic.

Voodoo dolls were created in the likeness of an American player; the word "gringo" written on the back the jersey.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Radio Shacks in Mexico were the ones distributing the dolls until corporate headquarters in Fort Worth got wind of things. The dolls then found a home at Mexican Blockbuster stores.

Team Mexico fans on hand at Hiney's told ABC-7 the "little Americans" were all in fun. But team USA fans weren't laughing.

"You don't like our team? That's fine," said one woman. "But to make voodoo dolls? That's going a bit far."

In the end, maybe not enough Mexican fans picked up the dolls or maybe they didn't use the pins correctly. Either way, Mexico lost the match 2 to 0.

Wednesday's game was the first of ten for each team. The United States plays El Salvador next month. Mexico is set to host Costa Rica.

The FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa on June 11, 2010.