Although more commonly associated with Spain, bullfighting is Mexico’s national sport. During the summer, matadores and their entourages perform in packed bullrings across the country. Mexico City is home to Plaza de Toros Mexico the largest bullring in the world. Jaripeos (rodeos) are also immensely popular.
While bullfighting is popular, Mexico’s heart belongs to fútbol (soccer). The Mexican affinity for competitive ball games originated in 1200 BC, when Mesoamerican natives invented the rubber ball. Today, any unused patch of dirt, grass, or concrete is likely to be swarming with young children playing a rowdy pick-up game. In addition to informal street games, Mexico has a popular professional football league with at least one team in each major city. Guadalajara, for example, has arch-enemy teams—Las Chivas and Atlas—complete with rival fan bases. At the international level, the entire country cheers and jeers the Mexican National Team, a gang of flashy green-clad young men; life comes to a standstill during important fútbol matches. Mexico played host to the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, and hosts other important matches in the Olympic Stadium and the enormous Estadio Azteca both in Mexico City.
Additionally, béisbol (baseball) attracts players and spectators at all levels, and Mexico has had its fair share of world boxing champions in the lighter weight divisions. There have been some notable Mexican marathon runners in past years, and no discussion of Mexican sports is complete without mention of the country’s illustrious record in the Olympic events of race walking and equestrian riding, two of the few sports in which Mexico has won a gold medal.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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