Through the staging of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ – at which Mexico became the first country to welcome the global showpiece for a third time – the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and FIFA cemented a strategic partnership that has revolutionised the community, school-based and youth development provisions across the national game.

Although in recent years, the relationship between the FMF and FIFA has revolved around the delivery of the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup™, which Mexico co-hosted with Canada and the United States, the ties have extended well beyond the organisation of the tournament.

Indeed, FMF President Mikel Arriola underscored the impact that the strategic link-up between the institutions has had in respect of access to the sport, the youth development and opportunities.

“When it comes to developing the game, FIFA is our key partner. We’ve really taken full advantage of the whole range of support it offers,” he said. “I’m referring here not only to financial assistance, but also technical expertise, strategic guidance and the exchange of international best practice.

“If you look at all of the FIFA Member Associations, we’re amongst the frontrunners in terms of leveraging that support. FIFA’s backing has enabled us to roll out a series of programmes designed to broaden access to the game, strengthen our development pathways and provide players, coaches and communities across the country with better opportunities.”

With regard to how the two organisations have teamed up to supercharge schools and community-based grassroots football in the North American nation, the FMF called on funding from the FIFA Forward Programme to develop its Jugamos Todos (“Let’s All Play”) digital platform, with the initiative benefiting from the support of the FIFA Football for Schools programme.

The Mexican FA launched a national schools tournament in 2025 comprising teams that fly the flag for each of its 32 regional associations. The maiden edition  featured the involvement of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). FIFA contributed to the initiative by donating 110,000  footballs, and FIFA Forward funds supported the delivery of the national finals.

As for FIFA’s social outreach efforts in Mexico, under the auspices of the FIFA Arena project, a mini-pitch was opened in La Paz on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The first of a number of such pitches to be built nationwide, the facility provides schoolchildren with a safe space in which to enjoy the game. In addition, the FIFA Boots for All initiative was rolled out in the North American country this past 29 March, with children from disadvantaged communities receiving football boots under a scheme that received the support of the Mexican government’s sports authorities.

The FMF has further enhanced its talent identification and development provision by establishing a string of national competitions. Chief amongst these FIFA Forward-funded projects is the Copa FMF, which is contested by U-12 and U-13 sides. In addition, a nationwide talent identification programme entitled El Camino (“The Journey”), which also involves trial events in seven US cities, aims to help the association unearth Mexican starlets in the U-14 and U-15 categories. Through a series of trials, players are whittled down to form a squad to compete at the Supercopa FMF, the third edition of which took place this year. The El Camino initiative, funded by the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, enables Mexico to identify promising prospects regardless of their financial or geographical circumstances. The standout performers at the events held in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey were rewarded with a spot in the ball crew for matches contested in the three Mexican Host Cities at the latest instalment of international football’s premier competition.

The Supercopa FMF is an elite competition that provides a platform for the best Mexican talent at U-14 and U-15 levels across both genders. The prestigious tournament helps players to get on the books of professional clubs and puts them on the radar of the Mexican youth national teams. The FMF’s endeavours in the area of talent identification and professional development took centre stage in February, when more than 800 representatives from across the youth ranks of Mexican and world football, including FIFA executives, descended on Querétaro for the second edition of the association’s youth football congress.

Another area in which FIFA and the FMF have joined forces is in the efforts to aid Mexican communities devastated by natural disasters. With FIFA Regional Development Office support, the federation devised and implemented mechanisms that seek to rebuild the football infrastructure following the devastation caused in Acapulco and the State of Mexico in recent years.

In a stellar show of teamwork, the FMF and FIFA came together to help deliver an unforgettable edition of FIFA’s flagship men’s event, and the organisations are creating a legacy in the areas of youth development and social outreach that promises to leave an indelible mark on the Mexican game.