Football is undoubtedly one of Mexico’s favorite sports, with a long and passionate history dating back over a century. Football captivates and excites fans throughout the country, from the local pick-up games in small villages to the packed stadiums for matches between top teams. The exciting combination of skill, determination, and luck all in play makes it an enjoyable spectacle that requires no language or financial barrier to entry.
If you ask a regular Mexican if football was invented in Mexico, they will probably confirm that not because they are ignoring the fact that the game was first played in England, but because they are so passionate about the game that they fill it as their own.
Mexico is the 14th biggest country in the world and home to over 126 million people. And soccer helps to bring local communities together in a way nothing else can: watching passionate fans cheer on their beloved team as they fight for victory. National pride becomes highly evident when supporting Mexican teams, even when playing against international ones.
Mexico always had pride and energy, which has been seen as the best on the football pitch. Today there are around 400,000 registered football players in the country and over 8 million unregistered.
It all started at the end of the 19th century when football was introduced to Mexico by emigrant miners from Cornwall, England. In the early 1900s, football was used as a method to “indoctrinate modern labor practices” such as teamwork and competition within a set of rules upon the Mexican workers.
In 1902, a five-team league was established, and 40 years later, football became a professional sport. The popularity of the game in Mexico reached its peak when the country was the host of the 1970 World Cup. That was the first time World Cup games were broadcasted live on television around the world. Mexico was a great host, and FIFA decided to give the country another chance to host the World Cup in 1986. Estadio Azteca in Mexico City became the first stadium ever to host the World Cup final twice.
The love for the football game went sky-high, so the Mexicans felt it was a national sport. Their national team was improving, and since 1994, Mexico has participated in every World Cup.
Mexico is historically the most successful national team in the CONCACAF region, holding nine CONCACAF championships, including six CONCACAF Gold Cups, one North American Nations Cup, and three NAFC Championships.
Mexico is the only team from CONCACAF to have won an official FIFA competition, the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.
On the club level, Liga MX is the highest level of competition in the country and the third-best league in Latin and South America after the top leagues in Brazil and Argentina. The leading football clubs in Mexico are América, Guadalajara, Cruz Azul, and UNAM, known as the Big Four.
As additional information, Hugo Sánchez is widely considered the greatest Mexican football player. He is the Mexican player who has scored the most goals in Europe. He spent most of his career with Atletico and Real Madrid and is the fourth-best scorer in La Liga history.
It’s no wonder football is so deeply admired throughout Mexico – its contagious enthusiasm makes it hard not to enjoy!
