MEXICO CITY — In 2015, Mexican striker Charlyn Corral made the decision to move to Spain seeking opportunities in soccer, as her home country lacked a professional league for women. However, the landscape of women’s soccer in Mexico has drastically changed since then. On Monday, over 50,000 fans gathered to witness the women’s league final, where Monterrey triumphed over Tigres in a thrilling penalty shootout.
The Liga MX Femenil was established in 2017 and features two annual tournaments: the Clausura from January to May and the Apertura from late summer through autumn. Corral, now 33, returned to Mexico three years ago to play for Pachuca, which was eliminated by Monterrey in the semifinals. “The growth has been exponential; it’s been very rapid,” Corral noted, expressing excitement at the growing recognition of female players. “In the past, you were generally known only in women’s soccer circles, but now many people can name the national team players,” she remarked, having previously secured a scoring title with Levante in the 2017-18 season.
Monterrey, located in the northern part of Mexico, has seen an impressive average attendance of 11,428 fans during their home games in the Apertura championship. “The support has been remarkable, not just locally but throughout the country,” said Monterrey goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar, who has experience playing for Barcelona in Spain.
A report from FIFA indicated that during the 2021-22 season, Liga MX Femenil had the second highest average attendance globally at 3,100, following the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States, which boasted an average of 7,930. The Women’s Super League in England ranked third that year, with an attendance of 7,363 in the subsequent season.
The Mexican Football Federation reported that out of 34 million soccer fans in the country, about 26 million have shown interest in the women’s league. Mariana Gutierrez, the president of the league, acknowledged the growing interest in women’s soccer, explaining that it has allowed for new conversations surrounding the development of the sport in Mexico. In this league, women’s teams are closely tied to men’s premier teams, sharing stadiums that likely contribute to higher attendance figures.
Television ratings also reflect the growing popularity, with 5.75 million fans tuning in to watch the 10th round of the Apertura, setting a new league record. This surpassed the previous high of 4.61 million from the 2024 Clausura.
Beyond soccer, women in Mexico are achieving significant milestones, such as the election of Claudia Sheinbaum as the country’s first female president. However, challenges remain in more rural, Indigenous communities where traditional male dominance prevails.
Many female players in the league started by playing alongside boys during their youth. Stephany Mayor, a participant in two Women’s World Cups for Mexico, shared her experience: “I grew up playing soccer with my cousins, often with boys from ages five to twelve. People often advised me to focus on other career paths, but my passion was soccer, and I was determined to pursue it.” According to FIFA, the number of women and girls participating in organized soccer in Mexico skyrocketed from 50,000 in 2019 to 1.5 million last year.
The Mexican national team, previously overlooked, has begun to yield promising results internationally. Recently, Mexico secured the gold medal at the Central American Games and celebrated their first-ever gold at the Pan American Games. In another notable achievement, they defeated the United States 2-0 in the Gold Cup this year.
Andrea Rodebaugh, the director of national teams in Mexico, emphasized the importance of strong and committed clubs in nurturing talented players to form a robust national team. Following her appointment in December 2022, Rodebaugh expressed her surprise at the speed of their recent successes. “I never expected results to come so quickly; it reflects that we’re on the right path,” she stated.
While Mexico missed out on qualifying for the last Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the upcoming Paris Olympics, focus remains on the next World Cup scheduled in Brazil for 2027. National coach Pedro Lopez remarked, “We possess the necessary resources for a competitive team—the infrastructure, established clubs, a solid federation, and talented players gaining confidence.”
As the league continues to develop, Gutierrez hopes for sustained growth in the sport. “In Mexico, soccer is a passion that transcends gender. This is why women’s soccer is gaining traction,” she observed. “Mexico is making commendable strides in women’s soccer.”