" I’m still doing what I love": Julión Álvarez gives his first U.S. Concert in 8 years

Following an eight-year break from American stages, Julión Álvarez officially comes back with three back-to-back shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on April 17, 18, and 19, 2025. They are his first performances in the United States since 2017, following a prolonged ban following sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department.

According to Billboard, standing before thousands of fans, Álvarez addressed the crowd with a comment that captured the moment:

"Let them say I’m asleep and bring me here, beautiful and beloved Mexico, if I die far from you. I hadn’t come to sing for you in eight years, Thank God and thanks to all of you, I’m still doing what I love — the work on which so many families depend."

His return response to a question many have asked themselves over the years—when would Julión Álvarez be free to tour in the U.S. again? Years of legal troubles, intensive scrutiny, and eventually being removed from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list back in May of 2022. Said performances not only represent a milestone in his career but are also the official re-engagement of Álvarez's U.S. presence after nearly a decade.

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Background: The 2017 OFAC sanctions

According to Money Laundering Watch and Univision, in August of 2017, the United States Department of the Treasury officially listed Álvarez under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, claiming that Álvarez acted as a frontman for suspected drug trafficker Raúl Flores Hernández.

The list denied him permission to work within the U.S., froze the assets under United States jurisdiction, and severed all working relationships between him and any entities based within the U.S. Álvarez denied these accusations and averred he was innocent throughout.

During this time, Álvarez's U.S. visa was revoked, and any commercial transactions that touched the U.S. financial system became legally out of bounds. Despite all these restrictions, he continued to operate in Mexico and other Latin American nations.

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Removal from the OFAC list

As per Warrenburstein, after years of passing through legal procedures and struggling to revive his reputation, Julión Álvarez was officially delisted from the OFAC list on May 26, 2022. The action brought an end to the actions that had, in essence, banned him from the U.S. entertainment and financial sector.

He was able to return to the United States and regain his reputation for business and performance after being delisted.

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Back to the stage in America

The SoFi Stadium concerts mark Álvarez's official return to live concert performances in the United States. The three-concert tour is not just large but symbolically relevant, marking the conclusion of an enforced drought and the beginning of a new chapter in his professional life.

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Second US performance announced

In addition to these appearances at Inglewood, Álvarez revealed a fourth US performance, which will take place at Arlington AT&T Stadium in Texas on May 24, 2025. This date again follows his return from California and is an expansion of his re-entry into the greater American music industry.

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Julión Álvarez's return to the U.S. concert circuit in April 2025 at SoFi Stadium—his first performance in the country since 2017—follows his delisting from OFAC sanctions in 2022. His return is a big accomplishment in his career, both a legal return and a re-unification with his U.S. fans.

A fourth performance is also lined up in Arlington, Texas, on May 24, 2025, as evidence of his comeback to the U.S. touring circuit.

Also read: Julion Alvarez announces first date for ‘4218 Tour USA 2025’ : How to get tickets and all you need to know