Sport in Mexico

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The most popular sport in Mexico currently is association football (soccer) followed by boxing.^[1][2] Historically, football has been the dominant sport in Mexico shaping the national sports scene. The Mexican Primera División (Liga MX) is one of the top soccer leagues globally. Baseball also holds a notable place in Mexican sports culture, particularly in the northwest and southeast regions of the country, particularly in states such as Sonora and Sinaloa, and in the southeast, notably in Yucatán and Quintana Roo. The Mexican League (Liga Mexicana de Béisbol) serves as a major league in this sport, with a strong regional following. The country has produced many renowned boxers, and major fights generate considerable interest and viewership.

In recent decades, basketball, American football, mixed martial arts, and cycling have also gained traction in Mexico. Basketball and American football have seen growing followings. Basketball has seen growing popularity in urban centers and northern regions, cities such as Monterrey and Guadalajara. American football tends to have a more localized following, particularly in the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, where the sport is popular among college teams. Mixed martial arts is also popular in the northern regions, especially because it has produced the most Mexican world champions.

Charrería (Mexican rodeo) holds cultural significance and is recognized as the national sport of Mexico.^[3] American rodeo is also practiced in Mexico; particularly in the country's northern states. It is held in high regard especially in Chihuahua and Coahuila. American bull riding is practiced in Mexico's northern and central regions, while jaripeo, a Mexican-born form of bull riding is traditionally practiced in the country's central and southern regions.

The country's prominence in global soccer is underscored by its hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 1970 and 1986, with Mexico set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Canada.^[4] While college sports in Mexico do not enjoy the same level of commercialization, there is growing interest in university-level competitions. Internationally, Mexico has achieved notable success in various sports at the Olympic Games, including boxing, diving, and athletics. The country also excels in taekwondo, with Mexican athletes performing well in international competitions. As the markets for youth and junior players expand, the extreme racquet sport of racquetball is seeing steady growth and development. Meanwhile, in the southern part of Mexico City, the amateur practice of Paleta frontón and Basque pelota holds significant cultural importance and has enhanced the international reputation of Mexican sports.

In terms of exercising sports discipline, a distinction must be made between organized sport (high-competition and federated) and amateur sport (primarily individual and for physical culture purposes). In the first case, the second most practiced sport (after association football) at the national level is taekwondo, followed by basketball and baseball. In the second case, physical conditioning disciplines such as walking, running, swimming or those linked to gyms are the most practiced.