MEXICO Law and Practice Contributed by: Héctor Kuri, Ricardo García, Lisandro Herrera and Xavier Careaga, Galicia Abogados, S.C.
allowed on the pitch simultaneously. These restric - tions have not been successfully challenged under constitutional or competition law principles. Visa Restrictions Foreign athletes are subject to Mexico’s immigra - tion framework under the Migration Law ( Ley de Migración ). Athletes typically require a temporary resident visa with work authorisation or a visitor visa with remunerated activities permission. Clubs and event organisers ordinarily sponsor the immigration process. International tournaments may benefit from expedited processing co-ordinated through sports federations. 8. Women’s Sport 8.1 Development and Growth of Women’s Sport Women’s sport in Mexico has experienced growth in visibility and commercial development, driven primar - ily by the establishment of Liga MX Femenil in 2016. The women’s professional football league operates under the FMF and features teams affiliated with Liga MX clubs. Liga MX Femenil has achieved notable attendance fig - ures, with the 2023 final between Club América and Pachuca drawing over 58,000 spectators at Esta - dio Azteca. Regular season matches are broadcast across multiple platforms. However, research cited by FMF officials indicated that approximately half of the Mexican population remained unaware of Liga MX Femenil as of 2022. Commercial investment in women’s football has increased, though media rights deals for Liga MX Femenil are typically bundled with men’s football rights rather than negotiated separately. Player sal - aries remain substantially lower than in the men’s league, though some clubs have announced incre - mental improvements. 8.2 Organisations and Initiatives to Promote Women’s Sport CONADE has implemented programmes promot - ing gender equality in sport and supporting women
athletes across disciplines. The creation of Liga MX Femenil in 2016 by the FMF, with mandatory participa - tion for Liga MX clubs, represents the most significant institutional initiative for women’s sport development, providing professional infrastructure and accelerating visibility and commercial growth. Beyond football, women’s sport development relies primarily on existing national sports federations and CONADE rather than dedicated women’s sport organ - isations. The Mexican Olympic Committee supports female athletes through national team programmes and Olympic preparation initiatives. Mexico is a state party to the Convention on the Elimi - nation of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the LGCFD recognises gender equality as a principle governing sports policy, though imple - mentation mechanisms require continued develop - ment. 9. Esports 9.1 Development and Growth of Esports In Mexico, there is a push for formal federal regulation of esports. In 2019, CONADE granted official sport status to the Mexican Federation of Esports (FEMES). Whilst legislative initiatives to incorporate esports into the LGCFD have gained momentum, they await final enactment. Mexico’s esports landscape has transitioned from a niche hobby into a structured industry, represent - ing one of the largest markets in Latin America. The esports market is projected to reach approximately USD149.3 million by 2030. The industry’s maturation is evidenced by professional ecosystems supported by international investment, dedicated gaming centres, and major broadcasters including Televisa launching BitMe, a dedicated esports channel. Development is defined by mobile gaming domi - nance, which has democratised access to competitive gaming, particularly through popular titles like Free Fire. Major events such as Gamergy México and the Liga Latinoamericana serve as primary hubs for fan engagement. Sponsorship remains the largest reve -
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