Mexican Football Federation

Mexican Football Federation
CONCACAF
Short nameFMF
Founded23 August 1927; 99 years ago (1927-08-23)
HeadquartersToluca, State of Mexico
FIFA affiliation1929
CONCACAF affiliation1961
PresidentMikel Arriola
Websitefmf.mx

The Mexican Football Federation (Spanish: Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, A.C.), also known by its acronym FMF, is the official governing body responsible for organizing, supervising, developing and promoting all competitive football in Mexico. The federation was officially established on 23 August 1927 to replace the Federación Central de Fútbol, and its headquarters are located in Toluca, State of Mexico. It is a full member of FIFA since 1929, and is a founding member of CONCACAF and NAFU since 1961.

The FMF administers the men's and women's national teams in all their categories, the national teams of futsal and beach soccer, all the men's and women's professional leagues in the Mexican football league system, all official domestic competitions, all competitions for youth and reserve teams, and the affiliated amateur sectors.

History

The first governing body for football in Mexico was founded in 1922 as Federación de Football Association, after the merger of Liga Mexicana and Liga Nacional, two precursor amateur leagues. Inmediately, the federation created the Campeonato de Primera Fuerza (First Force Championship), although it was a local amateur league in Mexico City, it is considered as the direct predecessor of the current Liga MX. However, the Federación de Football Association was dissolved in 1923 and replaced by the Federación Central de Fútbol (Central Football Federation), due to the great influence and relevance of the clubs from Mexico City.

In 1927, the current Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación was officially established, after a reorganization and renewal led by the seven founding clubs: América, Asturias, Aurrerá, Club México, Germania, Necaxa and Real Club España. The president Humberto Garza Ramos, the general secretary Juan B. Orraca and the treasurer Manuel Alonso registered and affiliated the FMF with FIFA in 1929. Since the 1927–28 season, the FMF took control of organizing the Campeonato de Primera Fuerza.

On November 1930, the Juegos de la Revolución (Games of the Revolution) an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution was held in the country, and the FMF paused the 1930–31 season. While the event was taking place, the clubs that played their home matches at Campo Asturias requested permission to remodel it. However, Real Club España, América, and Necaxa, clubs that had their own fields, disagreed with the FMF's permission, and this generated disagreements and conflicts. On December 1930, there was a total separation of clubs in the FMF, dividing into two groups. A group of five clubs with Atlante, Asturias, Club México, Germania and Marte remained affiliated with the FMF, and also invited Club Leonés and Sporting to join the league. Meanwhile, the separatist group with Real Club España, América and Necaxa invited Club Alvarado and Toluca to join the Federación Central de Fútbol, which sought to overthrow the FMF, but failed due to a lack of support from FIFA.

Due to the separation of the clubs, the FMF cancelled the 1930–31 season. After several months and economic losses for both federations, they reached agreements on 7 July 1931 for the reintegration of all clubs with the FMF, and thus the Federación Central was dissolved. Subsequently, the FMF renamed the league competition as Liga Mayor del Distrito Federal (Mayor League of the Federal District), which was played until the beginning of the professional era of the league, officially established in 1943 as Liga Mayor.

Structure

Former headquarters in Mexico City

The governing body of the Federation is the General Assembly that conforms with the participation of the Liga MX with 40% of the votes; Liga Femenil with 18%; Liga de Expansión MX with 5%; Liga Premier with 18%; Liga TDP with 13%, and the Amateur Sector with 6%. The executive and administrative body is the National Council, which comprises five members, one from each of the divisions mentioned, and are elected every four years.

Association staff

Name Position Source
Mexico Mikel Arriola President Commissioner
Mexico Ivar Sisniega Executive President
Mexico Lorena Mac Farland Chief of Staff
Mexico Iñigo Riestra Chief Legal Officer
Mexico Luis Palma Chief Operations Officer
Mexico Leonardo Valdez Director of Human Capital
Mexico Luis Cantú Director of IT
Mexico Lucía Mijares Technical Director
Mexico José Romano Sales Manager
Mexico Duilio Davino Sports Director of National Teams (men's)
Mexico Andrea Rodebaugh Sports Director of National Team (women's)
Mexico Víctor Manuel Aguado Director of Institutional Services
Argentina Andrés Lillini Coordinator of Youth National Teams
Mexico Jorge Christian Tello Scouting Coordinator
Spain Martí Matabosch Sports Science Coordinator
Mexico Rafael Márquez Head coach (men's)
Spain Pedro López Head coach (women's)
Mexico Isidro Chávez Castillo Director of Communications and Public Relations
Mexico Fernando Schwartz Director of Strategic Communications
Mexico Salvador Aguilera Galicia Press Officer
Mexico Juan Manuel Herrero Director of the Referees Committee
Chile Enrique Osses Technical Director of the Referees Department
Mexico Benito Armando Archundia Director of Referee Delegations and Mentoring

Source: FMF

National teams

Mexico national team

The first Mexico national team was established in 1923, defeating Guatemala 2–1 at home in Mexico City, and the Mexico's debut in international competitions was at the 1928 Olympic Games. Mexico has qualified for the FIFA World Cup eighteen times, its first appearance was in the inaugural edition in Uruguay 1930, and also played the opening match against France. The team's best performance was reaching the quarter-finals twice (1970 and 1986), both as hosts.

The team won its first honors in international competitions at the Central American and Caribbean Games, winning the gold medal in 1935 and 1938. In competitions organized by a FIFA-affiliated body, the team won the NAFC Championship in 1947 and 1949. Mexico was a founding member of CONCACAF in 1961, after the merger of NAFC and CCCF. In 1963, the team participated in the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Championship, and won its first title in 1965.

Mexico is the only non-European or South American national team to have won a global or intercontinental FIFA competition for senior national teams, winning the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup as hosts, defeating Brazil 4–3. The Mexico national team has won 21 titles in total: one FIFA Confederations Cup, 13 CONCACAF Championship/Gold Cup titles, one CONCACAF Nations League, one CONCACAF Cup, two NAFC Championship titles, one North American Nations Cup and two gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Mexico women's national team

The first women's national team was originally established in 1963, the team played its first match in 1970, defeating Austria 9–0 in Italy. Mexico's debut in international women's competitions was in the 1991 CONCACAF Women's Championship. Mexico has qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup three times, and the team's first appearance was in 1999.

The Mexico women's national team has won five titles in total: four gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games and one gold medal at the Pan American Games.

Mexico Under-23 team / Olympic team

The Under-23 team, also known as the Olympic team, is an intermediate category between the senior team and the youth teams. Implemented by FIFA since 1992 to participate in the Olympic football tournament to replace amateur teams.

The Under-23 team has qualified for the Olympic Games six times. The team have been Olympic medalists twice, winning the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, defeating 2–1 Brazil, and also won the bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, defeating the hosts Japan 3–1.

Men's youth teams

The Under-20 team has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup eighteen times, finishing as runners-up in 1977, and also finishing as third place in 2011. The team has won the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship fifteen times.

The Under-17 team has qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup seventeen times, finishing as world champions twice (2005 and 2011), and also finishing as runners-up twice (2013 and 2019). The team won the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship nine times.

The Under-15 team participated in the inaugural edition of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in 2026, finishing as ninth place out of 189 participating teams. The team has won the CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship twice.

Women's youth teams

The women's Under-20 team has qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup eleven times, the team's best performance was reaching the quarter-finals four times (2010, 2012, 2016 and 2022). The team has won the CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship twice.

The women's Under-17 team has qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup nine times, finishing as runners-up in 2018 and also finishing as third place in 2025. The team won the CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship once.

The women's Under-15 team has only participated in the CONCACAF Girls' Under-15 Championship, finishing as runners-up twice.

Professional leagues

Men's football is organized into four professional leagues. Women's football is organized into two professional leagues.

Level League Teams Editions Current champions
Men
1Liga MX18115Cruz Azul
2Liga de Expansión MX1612Tepatitlán
3Liga Premier48101Deportiva Venados
4Liga TDP24667Delfines de Coatzacoalcos
Women
1Liga Femenil1818América
2Liga TDP Femenil522Atlético Cuernavaca

Competitions

Current competitions

Type Competition Note Founded
Men's competitions
Interfederation Leagues CupCup tournament2019
Campeones CupSuper cup2018
Top level Liga MXLeague1943
Campeón de CampeonesSuper cup1943
Supercopa de la Liga MXSuper cup2022
Second level Liga de Expansión MXLeague2020
Campeón de Campeones de la Liga de Expansión MXSuper cup2021
Third level Liga PremierLeague1950
Primera PremierSubdivisions of Liga Premier2026
Premier A2008
Premier B
Third and Fourth level Copa ConectaCup tournament2021
Fourth level Liga TDPLeague1967
Reserve Torneo Talento Premier FilialesLiga Premier reserve tournament—
Torneo de Filiales Liga TDPLiga TDP reserve tournament—
Academy Copa Promesas MXU-21 cup tournament2024
Liga MX Sub-21Youth leagues2025
Liga MX Sub-192024
Liga MX Sub-172009
Liga MX Sub-152010
Liga MX Sub-142022
Liga MX Sub-17 InternacionalU-17 international cup2022
Amateur Sector Amateur FMFAmateur tournaments and leagues—
Women's competitions
Top level Liga FemenilLeague2017
Campeón de CampeonasSuper cup2021
Second level Liga TDP FemenilLeague2024
Academy Liga Femenil Sub-19Youth league2022

Discontinued competitions

Type Competition Note Period
Men's competitions
Interfederation North American SuperLigaCup tournament2007–2010
Top level Copa MXCup tournament1942–1976, 1987–1992, 1994–1997, 2012–2020
Supercopa MXSuper cup2014–2019
Second level Ascenso MXLeague1994–2020
Campeón de AscensoSuper cup1997–2019
Third level Copa México de la Segunda División/
Copa de la Liga Premier de Ascenso		Cup tournament1950–1972, 1995–96, 2013–2015
Campeón de Campeones de la Segunda División/Liga PremierSuper cup1952–1972, 1995–2018, 2021–2023, 2025
Copa de Campeones de la Liga Premier de AscensoSuper cup2014
Copa de la Liga de Nuevos TalentosCup tournament2013–2015
Campeón de Campeones de la Liga de Nuevos Talentos/Serie BSuper cup2008–2018, 2021–2023, 2025
Copa de Campeones de la Liga de Nuevos TalentosSuper cup2014–2015
Fourth level Copa México de la Tercera DivisiónCup tournament1968–1976, 1980–81
Campeón de Campeones de la Tercera DivisiónSuper cup1969–1973, 1975
Academy Liga MX Sub-23Youth leagues2025
Liga MX Sub-202009–2023
Liga MX Sub-182021–2024
Liga MX Sub-162021–2024
Liga MX Sub-132012–2019
Liga MX Sub-15 InternacionalLiga MX youth international cup2014–2019
Qualifiers Pre-LibertadoresQualifying tournaments for Copa Libertadores1998–2003
InterLiga2004–2010
Amateur Campeonato de Primera Fuerza/
Liga Mayor del Distrito Federal		Mexico City's local league1922–1943
Copa MéxicoAmateur era1932–1942
Campeón de Campeones1942
Unofficial Copa Presidencial Adolfo López MateosExtra and unofficial cup tournaments1963
Torneo de Nuevos Valores1978
Copa Federación1983
Copa Federación-Prode1984
Women's competitions
Top level Copa MX FemenilCup tournament2017

Criticism

Multi-team ownership issue

The issue of multi-team ownership has been a highly debated one within the owners of the professional football clubs and the FMF. Of 34 clubs in the top two tiers, about a fourth of the clubs are owned by four groups: Grupo Pachuca (Pachuca and León), Grupo Caliente (Tijuana and Dorados de Sinaloa), Grupo Omnilife (Guadalajara and Tapatío) and Cooperativa La Cruz Azul (Cruz Azul and Cruz Azul Hidalgo). Of those groups that own more than one team, that ownership is usually split between the top two tiers of the league and act as a form of player development.

In May 2013, the Liga MX club owners approved banning a person or company from owning more than one team. The issue came to fore when rumor was that Carlos Slim, whose telecommunications company América Móvil owns a 30% stake in Grupo Pachuca, sought to acquire Guadalajara; he would refute the speculation. The ban applied to future acquisitions, not the then current team ownership, and did not require the sale of teams in excess of the one team limitation.

The issue reemerged in November 2013 when TV Azteca, owner of Monarcas Morelia, paid out 124 shareholders of Club Atlas US$50 million to acquire the club, which for years had been struggling financially.

2026 World Cup Bid

In September 2012, former Federación President Justino Compeán confirmed plans to bid. On 4 March 2016, Federación President Decio De Maria announced continued interest after the new FIFA president Gianni Infantino was elected in the wake of the Garcia Report corruption scandal. In April 2017, the Federación, with Canada and the United States, announced a joint bid to host the World Cup. It was awarded on 13 June 2018; 134 votes versus the Morocco bid by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation with 65 votes. Mexico will host 10 matches, Canada 3 matches, and the United States 60 matches in 10 cities including the final. The shortlist of match cities was selected in June 2022: Guadalajara, Mexico City, & Monterrey.[citation needed]

Presidents

Official federation

Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
Period President
1927–1928 Humberto Garza Ramos
1928–1929 Enrique Gavaldá
1930–1933 Jesús Salgado
1933–1937 Germán Núñez Cortina
1937–1941 Carlos Garcés
1941–1943 Manuel Galán
1943–1945 Enrique Chávez Peón
1945–1947 Sebastián Martínez
1948 Ernesto Casillas
1949–1950 José Luis Canal
1950–1952 José Luis Barros Sierra
1952–1954 Pedro Pons
1954–1956 Salvador Guarneros
1956–1958 Ignacio Gómez Urquiza
1958–1960 Moisés Estrada
1960–1970 Guillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena
1970–1974 José Luis Pérez Noriega
1974 Alfonso Estrada
1974 Carlos Laviada
1974–1978 Juan de Dios de la Torre
1978–1980 Guillermo Aguilar Álvarez Mazarrasa
1980–1988 Rafael del Castillo
1988 Rafael Castellanos
1988–1989 Marcelino García Paniagua
1989–1990 Jesús Reynoso
1990–1993 Francisco Ibarra García de Quevedo
1993–1994 Marcelino García Paniagua
1994–1998 Juan José Leaño
1998 Raúl Borja Navarrete
1998–2000 Enrique Borja
2000–2006 Alberto de la Torre Bouvet
2006–2015 Justino Compeán Palacios
2015–2018 Decio de María Serrano
2018–2023 Yon de Luisa Plazas
2023–2024 Juan Carlos Rodríguez Bas
2024–present Mikel Arriola

Unofficial and defunct federation

Federación de Football Association
Period President
1922–1923 Ulises García Ramos

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Tournament organized jointly by MLS and Liga MX, and also officially recognized by FMF and USSF. Since 2023, it is also officially recognized by CONCACAF.
  2. ↑ Competition organized jointly by MLS and Liga MX, and also officially recognized by FMF and USSF.
  3. ↑ The trophy is only contested when a club wins both Liga MX tournaments of the season and also automatically wins the Campeón de Campeones.
  4. ↑ From 1950 to 1994, it was the second level league of Mexican football.
  5. 1 2 3 From 1967 to 1994, it was the third level league of Mexican football.
  6. 1 2 Tournament played by "filiales", teams affiliated with a club in a higher level league.
  7. ↑ Since the 2026–27 season, tournament played by Under-21 teams of Liga MX, Liga Premier and Liga TDP clubs.
  8. ↑ Tournament organized jointly by FMF and USSF, and approved by CONCACAF.
  9. ↑ Between 1950 and 1972 it was a second level competition.
  10. ↑ Between 1952 and 1972, it was a second level competition.
  11. ↑ Tournament organized jointly by the company Soccer United Marketing and FMF.
  12. ↑ Since the 1927–28 season, the league was organized by the FMF.
  13. ↑ Tournament played by Primera División clubs.
  14. ↑ Tournament played by Primera División clubs with six starting players and five reserve players.
  15. ↑ Tournament organized jointly by FMF and the company "Pronósticos Deportivos", it was played by Primera and Segunda División clubs.
  16. ↑ Tournament organized jointly by FMF and the company "Pronósticos Deportivos", it was played by Segunda División clubs.

References

  1. 1 2 "Historia". FMF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  2. ↑ "Ramón Coll, electo Presidente de la Confederación de Futbol de América del Norte, América Central y el Caribe". 23 September 1961. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "La FMF informa las decisiones de su segunda Asamblea de Socios del 2024". FMF (in Spanish). 13 December 2024.
  4. ↑ fmf.mx
  5. ↑ "Introduccion, femexfut" [femexfut introducción] (in Spanish). Femexfut. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Member Association – Mexico". FIFA. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "MEXICO". Concacaf. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Member Association – Mexico". FIFA. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Member Association – Mexico". FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  10. ↑ Marshal, Tom. "Multi-club ownership causing headaches". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  11. ↑ Harrison, Crayton. "Billionaire Slim Buys 30% Stakes In Mexico Soccer Teams". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Mexican club owners move against multi-team ownership". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  13. ↑ "Multi-Ownership Is Back; TV Azteca Buys Atlas". soccerly. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  14. ↑ "Mexico to bid for 2026 World Cup". ESPN, Press Association. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Mexico wants to host 2026 World Cup as first nation to stage three editions". ESPN, Press Association. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2016.

19°25′04″N 99°10′12″W / 19.41779°N 99.169887°W / 19.41779; -99.169887