Although the majority show excitement because the country will host 13 matches in the next World Cup, Mexican fans show an emotional disconnection with local League soccer, frustrated by commercial decisions, according to a study by the consulting firm Truth Finder Consulgency.
In Mexico, soccer is increasingly perceived as lacking identity and without soul, and there is a distancing, caused by commercial decisions that have been above sporting passion.
One of the main causes of fans’ frustration is that they have been forced to purchase multiple subscriptions or resort to pirate platforms to follow soccer, and that will not be the exception in the World Cup, highlighted Agustín Cárdenas, vice president of McCann Worldgroup Mexico, to which the consulting firm belongs.
The desire to make money on the part of football owners has caused the sport as an experience to feel increasingly inaccessible to the fan, according to the study.
Recognized for decades among those with the most dedication to soccer, Mexican fans have shown fatigue with commercialization and in recent times they rebelled against the national team, which they booed in the two matches of the recent FIFA date.
Last Saturday, in Torreón, El Tri drew goalless with Uruguay, which caused rejection from the fans and reactions of victimhood from some footballers, who showed themselves vulnerable, which was criticized by coach Javier Aguirre.
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“Anyone who can’t stand criticism is no good for being here,” said Aguirre, who said he respected the fans, who criticized the tri again after the 1-2 defeat against Paraguay.
In addition to eliminating relegation and inventing a reclassification in the league tournament, the Mexican Soccer Federation has also been criticized for the scheduling of matches. This Thursday, for example, the final of the women’s league will be played at the same time as the men’s Apertura playoff.
In the women’s tournament it is common for the best teams to play on the same day, sometimes at the same time, and there are full days with matches of little interest.
Women’s soccer grows
Despite this, the Truth Finder Consultancy study highlighted that Mexicans see more authenticity in the ladies’ league. According to the consultancy, women’s soccer represents everything that men’s soccer seems to have stopped being.
The growth figures confirm this trend. Between January and February 2025 alone, the women’s league exceeded 10.9 million views, an amount that exceeds that obtained in the entire year 2024.
This growth is attributed to the fact that women’s soccer is perceived with less controversy, more connection and more authenticity.
Despite the drop in interest in the local league, Mexicans are excited about the World Cup, less than seven months before the capital, Guadalajara and Monterrey will share 13 games in the competition.
“While the excitement for the World Cup is palpable, the reality of national soccer is a contrast that must be addressed,” the study concluded.
With information from EFE.
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