Mexico, or the United Mexican States, to give it its official name, covers almost two million square kilometres and forms a large part of North America. It has more than 107 million inhabitants, and is the 11th most populous country in the world.
It shares a border with the United States to the north, and with Guatemala and Belize to the south. Politically, it is a democratic, representative and federal republic, made up of 32 federal states. The seat of government and the national capital is Mexico City, which is also a federal district in its own right.
The official language is Spanish, although the country is also home to a number of indigenous languages which also enjoy official recognition. Historically, Mexico can make a strong case to be one of the cradles of modern civilisation. There is evidence to suggest that the first inhabitants arrived on Mexican soil 30,000 years ago, although the first indigenous civilisations date from approximately 2500 B.C. These groups developed into some of the best-known pre-Hispanic civilisations, such as the Teotihuacan, the Olmec, the Mayan, and the Toltec. Perhaps the most famous of all, however, is the Aztec, which was the dominant group at the time of the Spanish conquest.
By virtue of its cultural and historical diversity, Mexico is home to several world-renowned pre-Hispanic archaeological sites, such as the pyramids of Teotihuacan, Palenque and Chichen Itza, which host millions of visitors every year. In fact, Mexico is a tourist’s dream; from the white, sandy beaches of the Mayan Riviera to the jungles of Chiapas, and the colonial cities inland, the country is one of the most visited in the world.
But the beating heart of the nation is its capital, home to almost 20 million people and one of the most populous urban centres on the planet. It is a dynamic and attractive city, even taking into account the inevitable traffic problems caused by such a dense population, and a tourist destination on a par with any other. Its main attractions for visitors and locals alike include the stunning National Museum of Anthropology.
Football
If Mexico City is the heart of the nation, football is its lifeblood. Mexicans are passionate followers of the beautiful game, and the country comes to a standstill when the national team plays, especially at a FIFA World Cup™. And while other sports such as boxing, basketball and baseball enjoy significant popularity, it is football that occupies pride of place in Mexican hearts.
The Mexican Football Association was formed in 1927, although the national championship was first contested in 1902. The game turned professional in 1943, and Mexico has since developed into one of Latin America’s strongest footballing nations. Moreover, its national league is one of the region’s most competitive, with seven different national champions in the last eight years. The country has also hosted the FIFA World Cup finals on two occasions, in 1970 and 1986. The imposing and impressive Estadio Azteca, on the outskirts of Mexico City, was the scene for both tournaments’ most memorable matches, and a stage for the world’s greatest players.
