WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Mexican senate asks for equal pay for Liga MX Femenil teams before the 2023 World Cup
Demand for equal salaries for the men’s and women’s teams ahead of the showpiece event has reached the senate in Mexico.
Slowly but surely, women’s football is gaining territory in Mexico, given the fact that many fans have shown interest in the game and some stadiums across the country have achieved tremendous numbers. Thanks to the growth of the sport, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), alongside the United States, made their interest clear to FIFA regarding holding the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
This decision has been questioned by the Republican Senate, as they say that the organiser of the tournament cannot have a gap in pay between the teams in the Liga MX and Liga MX Femenil. The senate called the directors of the FMF to persuade them to follow the example of the US, where both the men’s and women’s teams have equal pay.
‘Football will be the launchpad’ for equal pay in other sports
“You cannot aspire to raise your hand, to be the home of women’s football, if there aren’t equal conditions between those who practice the sport. Of course, football will be the launchpad for a lot of sports, but now is the moment to take advantage of the international spotlight so that Mexico, its league, its federation, show that they are all doing important things and taking steps forward”, said Clemente Castañeda, senator of the Citizen’s Movemement.
Also, ex-national team manager, Paola López Yrigoyen, supported the senator and said that she too wants equal and fair pay: “It’s curious that Mexico is in a candidate bid next to a country that was the first to agree to equal pay for their national team. In this sense, if the candidacy is a joint affair, it is a good moment for Mexico to get to their level regarding equal pay”, she said.
Mexico and the US to host the men’s tournament in 2026
It is worth remembering that Mexico and the US’ joint candidate bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup will be put up against those of Brazil and South Africa, as well as a joint-bid from The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Along with Canada, the two North American countries will host the men’s World Cup a year earlier, a tournament in which there will be 48 national teams playing for the trophy.