The Birthplace of Soccer in Mexico: A Tale of Two Towns

Soccer is the national sport of Mexico, captivating its citizens during global events like the World Cup. Currently, the Mexican national team’s success has ignited countrywide celebrations. Yet, the enthusiasm for soccer in Mexico has roots in a mountainous region about two hours northeast of Mexico City.

The story begins in the early 19th century when miners from Cornwall, England, arrived in Hidalgo State to enhance the mining industry. They brought soccer with them. However, the precise birthplace of this sport within the region, known as Mexico’s Little Cornwall, remains debated.

Mineral del Monte, a town of 16,000 people, nearly 9,000 feet above sea level, claims this honor. This former mining town, now a tourist spot, showcases its Cornish heritage with plaques and paintings near an old silver mine in the main square. These markers commemorate its historical significance.

Soccer in Mexico was born in a place close to the heavens: Real de Monte.

Named by Spanish colonizers as Real de Monte, Mineral del Monte holds that the first game took place at the Dolores Mine courtyards. The town embraces its role as the “cradle of Mexican soccer” with evident pride. A prominent bakery sells Cornish pasties filled with local flavors like mole or beans, celebrating a culinary fusion. An alleyway dedicates itself to the town’s soccer lineage, labeling Mineral del Monte as “the seed and root of soccer in Mexico.” This story has been perpetuated through news reports over the years.

Generations of Mineral del Monte residents pass down stories of soccer’s origins in their community. However, rival claims suggest otherwise.

Pachuca, another city in the region, asserts its own connection to the sport. The debate over which locale is the true birthplace continues, with each town cherishing its potential role in soccer history.