Mexicans live and breathe soccer
Soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico, despite the country being close to the North and Central American baseball belt.
Mexican soccer has actually been in the country since ancient times with archeological reports suggesting a form of the game was played by the Aztec and Toltec civilizations.
It was English expatriates who gave Mexico its modern soccer game, with the first club being formed in the early 1900s. Among the older clubs in Mexico are America, Altante and Necaxa.
Mexico has a thriving domestic league and a national team that is respected by their peers worldwide.
Mexican soccer is highly rated around the world with the national team consistently ranked among the top countries and their players sought after by rich overseas clubs.
Mexico has also hosted the sport’s biggest tournament, the World Cup, twice. The first time was in 1970 when Brazil took the title. Mexico hosted the tournament again in 1986, this time Argentina emerging triumphant.
Probably the most famous player to come out of Mexico was the now-retired Hugo Sanchez, a world-class striker who made a name for himself with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Carlos Hermosillo, Alberto Garcia Aspe and Luis Hernandez are other Mexican players who have made an impact on the international scene.
Mexico also have a steady stream of young talent who are destined for great things such as Diego Martinez, Jared Borgetti and Cuauhtemoc. The Mexicans need these youngsters to go out and play in the world’s top leagues in England, Spain and Italy if they are to develop a squad strong enough to challenge for international titles such as the World Cup.
Among Mexico’s greatest rivals on the soccer pitch is the United States. Whenever Mexico play away against the US, it is almost like a home match for the visitors because the crowd is usually dominated by Mexican expatriates.