| In Mexico, soccer started developing in | | | | biggest international performance to |
| different regions of the country, with | | | | date. |
| the first form of an organized | | | | However, they would equal this |
| championship being the Primera Fuerza, | | | | performance 16 years and 4 World Cups |
| which was a local league consisting of | | | | later, again on home ground, as they |
| various teams around the Federal | | | | would organize the 1986 World Cup, |
| District area. Players were | | | | considered by many as the most |
| semi-professional during this time, in a | | | | entertaining in the history of soccer. |
| time where Europe had already promoted | | | | Nowadays, reaching the quarter finals of |
| soccer professionalism. | | | | a World Cup is considered harder than it |
| With FIFA gaining strength as an | | | | was in the 70s or 80s and although |
| international soccer governing | | | | Mexican soccer progressed substantially, |
| organization, Mexico decided to organize | | | | they're still suffering in major |
| a national soccer organization of their | | | | competitions when facing soccer giants |
| own in 1927, called the Federacion | | | | from Europe or South America. However, |
| Mexicana de Futbol Asociacion (FMFA), | | | | the future is looking a lot brighter for |
| who became a member of FIFA in 1929, | | | | Mexican soccer in general and for the |
| just in time to participate to the first | | | | Mexico national soccer team. |
| World Cup with the newly formed Mexican | | | | Club soccer in the country is now deemed |
| National Soccer Team. | | | | as one of the richest in the Americas |
| Although participating in the first | | | | and some powerful clubs take part in the |
| World Cup, the Mexico soccer team wasn't | | | | Copa Libertadores, a competition that |
| considered a soccer power at that time, | | | | was normally allowed only for South |
| which was confirmed by their lack of | | | | American clubs. |
| results in World Cup qualifications | | | | Several top quality players have moved |
| until 1950. Although the team was now a | | | | from the Mexican league towards more |
| constant presence at the World Cup, they | | | | powerful ones, the clearest examples |
| had difficult times competing against | | | | being Rafael Marquez and Giovani Dos |
| the more powerful European and South | | | | Santos, who were bought by Spanish side |
| American nations and only won 1 match in | | | | FC Barcelona and are both important |
| 5 tournaments, against Czechoslovakia in | | | | members of the squad. |
| 1962. | | | | With these two players in the team, as |
| But in 1970, in an effort to promote | | | | well as several other emerging talents |
| soccer nationwide and seeing the | | | | playing in the national league, the |
| economical importance of hosting a World | | | | Mexico national soccer squad looks |
| Cup, Mexico managed to get hold of the | | | | tougher than ever and ready to beat |
| rights to organize their first World Cup | | | | their quarter-final best finish in the |
| in history. The Mexico soccer team | | | | upcoming World Cup in South Africa, |
| managed to reach the quarter-finals on | | | | 2010. |
| this occasion, which is still their | | | | |