The Most Popular Sports in Mexico
The 7 Most Popular Sports in Mexico
Mexico is the 13th largest country in the Americas, bordering the United States, the Caribbean, Guatemala and Belize.
Although Mexico is famous for its rich culture, scenic beaches, ancient ruins and delectable cuisine, Mexicans also have a special place in their heart for sport.
Mexican boxing legend, Julio Cesar Chavez
Bullfighting was the most popular sport in Mexico during the colonial period and the 19th century.
Although bullfighting is still an integral part of Mexican culture, it is nowhere near as popular as football, baseball and Mexican wrestling.
The most popular sports in Mexico, based on fan following, participation and the economy, include:
Football/Soccer
Boxing
Baseball
Lucha Libre
Bullfighting
Taekwondo
Charreria
Mexicans have an immense passion and enthusiasm for sports, particularly football and boxing, as in other Latin American countries.
In this article, we’ll discuss the 7 most popular sports in Mexico. Read on to find out more!
1. Football / Soccer
Football (Soccer) plays a crucial role in Mexican culture.
Mexicans recognise, acknowledge and accept football as an integral aspect of life.
Not only does football inspire children and adults, but it also brings families, communities and the nation together.
For instance, everything comes to a halt in Mexico City, Leon and Puebla when the national team plays a match in the World Cup, Copa America or any other international competition.
Mexico hosted the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cup Finals. There are lots of great football players from Mexico, including Javier Hernandez, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and more.
58% of people in Mexico show a keen interest in football. Likewise, over 40% of Mexicans enjoy watching football matches on TV.
LIGA MX is Mexico's most famous football league, with 18 teams that play two tournaments or championships annually.
Some of the most popular LIGA MX teams with a substantial fan following include:
Monterrey
Atlas
Tijuana
Cruz Azul
Juarez FC
Guadalajara
More than 15,000 people participate as spectators in LIGA MX's matches, on average.
In addition to LIGA MX, the LNBP is the second-most popular football league in Mexico, with an average of 3,000 spectators per match.
Mexicans consider "Hugo Sanchez Marquez" the greatest footballer of all-time.
Marquez was a crowd puller due to his enthusiasm on the field, energy with spectacular strikes and goal-scoring techniques.
While Mexico has numerous small and large stadiums that host domestic, national and international football events, Estadio Azteca is the most popular.
This stadium is home to "Club America" and the National Football team. It is 2,200 metres above sea level and it has a capacity of 106,187.
Read more on our football blog
2. Boxing
Boxing is an integral part of the Mexican sporting culture.
Mexican professional boxers have won more than 200 international championships.
Miguel Angel Febles was the first professional Mexican boxer to set up professional fights, promoting boxing throughout the country.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame has listed 14 Mexican boxers, including Julio Cesar Chavez, the greatest boxer in Mexican sports history.
Children and young individuals at the school and college levels participate in boxing events.
Likewise, people of all ages and walks of life enjoy watching boxing on TV.
48% of people in Mexico love watching, playing and getting information on boxing, one of the world’s most popular sports.
3. Baseball
Mexicans consider baseball deeply rooted in Mexico's recent sporting history.
Although baseball is not as popular as football, most Mexicans, particularly those near the Mexico-US border, play baseball regularly.
In fact, baseball is more popular than football in northern Mexico.
The Mexican Baseball League plays a crucial role in promoting this game in the country.
It hosts summer and winter leagues. The winter league has eight teams compared to the summer league, which has 16 teams.
In addition to domestic and national-level baseball events massively cherished by the country's inhabitants, professional baseball players participate in Major League Baseball (MLB).
That's why Mexicans love to watch MLB games!
More than 139 baseball players born in Mexico have participated in MLB.
You can't complete your trip to Mexico without visiting Monterrey and Mazatlan to watch a baseball game. These are the top two destinations to experience the growing sport of Mexican baseball.
The Sultans of Monterrey, the Red Devils and the Tires of Quintana Roo are the most popular Mexican baseball teams.
Most Mexicans also consider professional baseball an excellent option to make money in betting.
Mexico has two major baseball leagues with 15 teams each. These are the National League and the Pacific League.
Each league has three geographical divisions: central, west and east.
Love baseball? Check out our MLB blog!
4. Mexican Wrestling
Mexican wrestling, also known as Lucha Libre, is a way of life for Mexicans, particularly those residing in Mexic0 City.
It is one of the most popular sports in Mexico, with the second-highest spectator rate after football.
Mexican wrestling has played a crucial role in transforming the country's sports culture for seven decades.
Masked wrestlers are a key reason this sport became so popular in Mexico City.
Wrestlers wear masks with unique designs to appreciate, promote and showcase local beliefs and traditions. The mask also transforms an ordinary wrestler into a fearless character.
Lucha libre has the largest fan following after football, baseball and boxing.
Although the most famous Lucha libre fights attract over 17,000 spectators per match, most fights organised every week have spectators ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 people.
Many people watch Mexican wrestling on TV.
Lucha Libre AAA is the most popular Mexican Wrestling organisation/company, like the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the United States.
However, AAA's annual turnover is $20 million compared to WWE's $500 million.
5. Bullfighting
In English-speaking countries, including the U.S., the UK, Canada and Australia, bullfighting is viewed as controversial and barbaric, something from a bygone era that should be irrradicated.
Still, this sport is deeply rooted in Mexican culture. In addition to Spain, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, France and Portugal, bullfighting is legal in Mexico.
The conquistadores brought bullfighting to Mexico more than 500 years ago.
Some Mexicans believe bullfighting is uncivilised and unnecessary in the 21st century, as it is against animal rights and it promotes cruelty.
The Monumental Plaza is the largest bullfighting arena/ring in the world, with a capacity of 60,000 spectators.
The bad news for bullfighting fans in Mexico is that the judge has suspended all forms of bullfighting in Mexico City's Monumental Plaza.
6. Taekwondo
Dai Won Moon was the first person to introduce taekwondo to Mexico from South Korea in 1969.
It is one of the most popular sports in Mexico, with 3,500 schools and 1.5 million participants.
These schools have professional facilities, equipment and coaches to encourage youngsters to learn, play and promote taekwondo.
Mexicans have a keen interest in taekwondo.
Mexican professional taekwondoins have also won several medals at the Olympic Games, World Cups, Pan American Games, Central American Games and World University Games.
Some Mexicans respect taekwondo as a distinctive South Korean martial art; most Mexicans accept and practice it as a professional sport.
Taekwondo is an excellent example of Korean and Mexican cultures interacting and learning from each other.
7. Charreria
Last but not least, Charreria is the national sport in Mexico.
UNESCO named Charreria an integral component of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Professional Charreria "shows" began in the 19th century.
However, the Mexican Revolution played a critical role in fully emerging the sport in Jalisco and Hidalgo.
In addition, this sport became mainstream in Mexico City and other regions after the Agrarian Reform.
Guadalajara is the ultimate destination for fans to watch Charreria competitions every Sunday.
The authorities will organise the Mexican National Charro Championship during the Mariachi Festival in September 2023.
You’ll love wearing traditional, culturally-influenced charro clothing while performing!
What do you think of when you think of Mexican sports?
Mexicans love to live a healthy and happy life that extends way beyond their lifestyle and cuisine.
It is a sports-mad nation with a long tradition influenced by its ancient roots- and many Mexicans feel privileged to incorporate sports philosophy into their culture, traditions and values.
