Women's football in Mexico

Women's association football has long been a largely amateur sport in Mexico, given the greater emphasis of the male competitions.[1][2] However, rapid growth since 2021 has raised its profile enough to compete for sponsors and professional international talent not only within Mexico but also from Europe, Africa, and the United States.[3][4]

Women's football in Mexico
Belén Cruz, professional football Midfielder
CountryMexico
Governing bodyMexican Football Federation
National team(s)Women's national team
National competitions
International competitions

History

The second Unofficial World Championships with women's national football teams was hosted by Mexico in 1971.[5] Recently, the game has grown in the country with the introduction of a women's professional league.[6][7][8] The final was won by Denmark was played at Estadio Azteca, in front of 112,500 attendees.[9]

Domestic league
Main article: Liga MX Femenil

Liga MX Femenil is the national women's football in Mexico which began in 2016.[10][11][12]

In May 2018, Liga MX Femenil set the all-time world attendance record for a women's club match by drawing 51,211 to the second leg of the 2018 Clausura final.[3][13] In 2022, Tigres UANL signed United States prospect Mia Fishel, who became the league's first foreign golden boot winner in the 2022 Apertura,[14] and Nigerian national team striker Uchenna Kanu, while C.F. Pachuca signed Spanish national team star Jenni Hermoso,[15] and Club América signed Spanish internationals Andrea Pereira and Andrea Falcón.[4]

The 2022 Apertura final between Tigres and Club América set a league record for attendance in the first leg with 52,654, and a Mexican-audience television viewership record with 2.8 million viewers.[4]

In March 2023, Nike, Inc. became a major league sponsor, and its first major sponsor not shared with the men's Liga MX.[16]

Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil was a previous attempt to grow women's soccer in Mexico.

National team
Main article: Mexico women's national football team

The national team has qualified for the World Cup three times: in 1999, 2011, and 2015. Many of their players have American heritage.[17][18]

References
  1. Jones, Grahame L. (27 June 2004). "Women's Soccer in Mexico Gets a Cross-Border Kick". LA Times. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  2. "Marbella Ibarra murder - the legacy of Mexican women's football pioneer". 19 October 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  3. Hernandez, Cesar (15 April 2022). "Mexico's Liga MX Femenil has boosted women's soccer with stars and big crowds, but challenges remain". ESPN. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  4. Castro, Melissa (25 January 2023). "Liga MX Femenil already competes with the best". Cabra Sports. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  5. "SOCCER GOES SEXY SOUTH OF BORDER". June 27, 1971 – via NYTimes.com.
  6. Wilson, Bill (7 December 2018). "When women's football hit the big time". Retrieved 17 June 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. Doyle, Paul (13 June 2019). "Women's World Cup game-changing moments No 2: Denmark in 1971". Retrieved 14 June 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  8. "The lost lionesses". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  9. "Da Danmark blev verdensmestre i fodbold - DRTV". Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  10. "Femenil final shows women's football is thriving in Mexico". ESPN. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  11. FIFA.com (28 April 2017). "New women's cup primed to make waves in Mexico". fifa.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  12. Rangel, Jonathan. "The rise of women's football in Mexico – The creation of LIGA MX Femenil". Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  13. Baxter, Kevin (19 March 2019). "Soccer! Money makes the soccer world turn (except for you, France)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  14. "Mia Fishel claims Liga MX Femenil Apertura scoring crown". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  15. "Jenni Hermoso leaves Barcelona for Liga MX Femenil's Pachuca". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  16. Reidy, Paul (31 March 2023). "Nike set to sponsor Mexico's Liga MX Femenil". Diario AS. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  17. "The Mexican Women's National Team Needs to Stop Depending on U.S. Based Players". Vice. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  18. Baxter, Kevin. "Women's soccer in Mexico growing with help from U.S. players - Los Angeles Times". latimes.com. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
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