Soccer in Mexico Sees Increased Investment and Growth

Mexico forward Maria Sanchez celebrates with teammates after scoring in a women's international friendly against Colombia in 2021.

This article is part of our monthly series, exploring the women's game in different parts of the world. As we prepare for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, we delve into the stories of players, moments, and histories that bring the world of women's soccer closer together.

We recently explored the scenes in Paraguay and Colombia. This month, we're focusing on Mexico, as the 2026 men's World Cup kicks off there.

María Sánchez's first year playing for the Mexican national team was a whirlwind. In 2015, at 19 years old, she went from her first under-20 tryout to playing in her first World Cup, in the same calendar year.

Now, more than a decade later, the creative forward is hoping she and the women's national team can snap Mexico's nearly 12-year Women's World Cup drought next summer.

The investment is intentional. The 2015 World Cup in Canada was the last time the national team featured on soccer's biggest stage in the women's game, and now the team is determined to return.

A lot has changed in Mexican women's football. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has poured heavily into its national team since missing World Cup qualification in 2022, bringing in Spaniard Pedro López as the team's head coach and restructuring its program with 2027 in mind.

Considered the most-watched women's soccer league in the world, according to Mexican newspaper El Universal, the league attracts some of the world's best players, too.

Now, Mexican women's soccer is at a crossroads, with the national team's success capable of drastically propelling the sport's growth even further at a crucial time.