Christmas Fern – Polystichum acrostichoides

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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]

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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c 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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