Football in Mexico: 'A Paradise for Foreigners'?

This article traces the development of Mexican football from its inception to the successful hosting of two World Cup finals. We place our analysis within a post‐revolutionary context that exalted the virtues of self‐discipline that sport could contribute towards the patriotic endeavour of 'improving the race'. We argue that the character of the post‐revolutionary state, in which a symbiotic relationship between public and private endeavours was encouraged, was reflected in the distinct way in which football developed in Mexico. Furthermore, it also influenced the way in which sporting culture contributed to the Mexican migrant experience in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]