Mayra Pelayo’s name will forever be etched in the history of Mexico Female Soccer. In a moment that sent shockwaves through the world of women’s football, her late goal against the United States in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup was more than just a win; it was a declaration. It was a moment that screamed, “Mexico female soccer has arrived.” This wasn’t just any victory; it was the first time in 14 years that the Mexican women’s national team had defeated their formidable rivals, the U.S., and to do it on U.S. soil made it all the more significant.
Pelayo, in an interview with The Athletic, captured the essence of the moment, stating, “It just shows that our national team is growing so much, and there’s so much more to go through. But I think we’re on a really good path.” Her words resonate with the broader narrative of Mexico female soccer – a narrative of growth, investment, and a burgeoning ambition to compete on the global stage.
This historic victory wasn’t a fluke. It was the culmination of nearly a decade of strategic investments and a top-down commitment to elevate Mexico female soccer. The foundation of this resurgence lies in the thriving domestic league, Liga MX Femenil, and the Mexican Football Federation’s decisive restructuring of its sports department. This overhaul came after the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics, highlighting a serious commitment to change and improvement within Mexico female soccer programs.
Andrea Rodebaugh, the sporting director for the Mexican women’s national teams and a former national team player herself, emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between a strong national team and a robust domestic league. “A strong women’s national team depends on having a strong domestic league at home, and a strong domestic league depends on having strong clubs,” Rodebaugh explains. She points to the tangible progress: “The league over the last years has grown, has strengthened, and more and more teams are beginning to invest in their women’s program, and that is being reflected on the national team.” This investment is the lifeblood of the growing success of Mexico female soccer.
The Rise of Liga MX Femenil: Fueling Mexico Female Soccer
The establishment of Liga MX Femenil in late 2016 by Liga MX club owners marked a pivotal moment for Mexico female soccer. The league’s creation was driven by a clear vision: to nurture domestic talent, strengthen the national team, and ultimately position Mexico as an attractive destination for international stars. This strategic approach is paying dividends. Liga MX Femenil has successfully attracted high-profile international players, such as Spanish star Jenni Hermoso, who joined Pachuca in 2022 before moving to Tigres. Perhaps one of the league’s biggest coups was attracting Mia Fishel, now a Chelsea striker, who chose Tigres straight out of college, bypassing the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, who had drafted her.
The influx of international talent elevates the overall quality of Liga MX Femenil, creating a more competitive environment that directly benefits Mexican players. This is particularly crucial as a significant majority of the Mexico women’s national team players ply their trade in the domestic league.
Pedro López, appointed head coach of Mexico female soccer in 2022, highlights the league’s importance. “Eighty or 90% of the players on my team are in Liga MX,” López states. “It is a strong league that allows the Mexican player to find, both at a professional and sporting level, a good place to develop, and it is growing every year. Each season it gets better, and they’re also generating the tools for young players to also have the same competitive environment.” Liga MX Femenil is not just a league; it’s the engine driving the development of Mexico female soccer talent.
Cross-Border Influence: The U.S. and Mexico Female Soccer
The growth trajectory of Mexico female soccer is intrinsically linked to the development of the women’s game in the United States. Success in one nation often has a ripple effect, benefiting its neighbor. Interestingly, before Liga MX Femenil’s inception, the Mexican federation had a player allocation agreement with U.S. Soccer, allowing Mexican players to join NWSL clubs. However, this partnership concluded in 2016 as the Mexican federation sought more playing time opportunities for its players. This decision ultimately paved the way for the focused development of Liga MX Femenil.
Now, both leagues are thriving independently and collaboratively. A testament to this growing partnership is the newly announced Summer Cup, a 33-match tournament featuring top teams from both NWSL and Liga MX Femenil, scheduled during the Olympic break. Mariana Gutierrez, Liga MX Femenil’s director, hailed this collaboration as “a great achievement for women’s football in our region and around the world.”
Furthermore, the joint bid by Mexico and the U.S. to co-host the 2027 Women’s World Cup underscores their shared ambition to propel women’s soccer in North America to new heights. If successful, this bid, with the winner to be announced by FIFA in May, would be a monumental boost for the region, building upon the momentum of the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
Rodebaugh reflects on the potential impact, recalling the 1999 World Cup hosted by the U.S.: “It was played in the United States, but in Mexico, just having qualified, gave exposure to the team and created this surge of interest and desire for little girls to play, which I would say was the beginning of what we have today.” Hosting the World Cup would automatically qualify Mexico female soccer for the tournament, but the team is determined to earn their place regardless.
Coaching and Future Ambitions for Mexico Female Soccer
Pedro López’s appointment as head coach has been instrumental in the recent progress of Mexico female soccer. Known for his expertise in nurturing young talent, López previously achieved success with youth national teams in Spain. Mexico’s impressive run to the Gold Cup semifinals is a clear indication of López’s positive impact. However, he is acutely aware that this is just the beginning. The ultimate goals for Mexico female soccer are consistent qualification for the World Cup and the Olympics. To prepare for these challenges, the team has actively sought out high-level competition, organizing international friendlies against Colombia and Australia as part of their annual Mex Tour W in the U.S.
“These types of rivals are the ones we want to face and overcome,” López emphasizes. “We are on a good path, and this last Gold Cup showed us that we can, (and) that we want to, and we need to prove it with every opportunity we have.” The Mex Tour W serves multiple purposes: it provides crucial match experience against top international teams and connects the Mexico female soccer team with its growing fanbase in the United States.
Organized by Soccer United Marketing (SUM), in partnership with the Mexican federation, the Mex Tour W is building on the success of the long-established men’s Mex Tour. While the men’s team has long enjoyed huge support in the U.S., a similar phenomenon is emerging for Mexico female soccer, particularly after their Gold Cup victory against the U.S., igniting a new rivalry.
Rodebaugh observes, “Mexico has just begun to create this rivalry, because of the result in the Gold Cup. Suddenly, everybody turned around and looked at Mexico and now, every time we play, I know that there’s going to be a little bit more rivalry between the two teams.” The Mex Tour provides valuable time for the team to gel, build team culture under López, and test themselves against World Cup and Olympic-caliber opposition. It also serves as a platform to integrate younger players into the senior setup.
The success extends beyond the senior team. Mexico’s U-20 team won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship last year, defeating Canada and the U.S., showcasing the depth of talent rising through the ranks of Mexico female soccer. Nineteen-year-old goalkeeper Itzel Velasco, a standout player from that tournament and Liga MX player for Club América, has already earned a call-up to the senior team.
The growing popularity of Mexico female soccer is also inspiring young Mexican-American players. For Mayra Pelayo, a U.S.-born player who chose to represent Mexico, scoring against the U.S. in Los Angeles was a deeply personal and symbolic moment. “Obviously, being born in the U.S., you always say, ‘I’m gonna play for this country.’ But after I came and moved to Mexico, and played professionally here, I just fell in love with the country,” Pelayo explains. “I fell in love with what my family came from, and, honestly, this culture is so much more welcoming. I love it so much. I think that’s what made me kind of decide to play for this country, to back it up and to back up where I came from.”
The upcoming rematch between Mexico and the U.S. in July, ahead of the Paris Olympics, is highly anticipated. Mexico female soccer is no longer seen as an underdog. As Pelayo concludes, “Mexico is getting a lot more respect for their soccer. It started off with the Liga MX and it has progressed so much. … It’s going to get better each year.” The future of Mexico female soccer is bright, and the world is taking notice.
