Is It Worth Going To A Soccer Game In Mexico City While Traveling?
Figuring Out What To Do On Your Next Mexico City Trip And Wondering If Going To A Soccer Game Is Worth Adding To Your Itinerary?
When I first visited Mexico City I wanted to go to a soccer game, even though I’d never been to one before, because I knew how big and important this sport was in Mexico, but I never imagined just how important this sport would become to me after that first game, so I would definitely recommend adding this activity onto your itinerary regardless of your current interest in soccer.
⚽️ Is It Worth Going To A Soccer Game In Mexico City?
⭐️ Overall – Is It Worth Going To A Soccer Game In Mexico City:
- ⚽️ if you are already a fan of soccer or you want to experience more of the real Mexican culture, I would definitely recommend making it a priority to go to a game on your trip to Mexico City
- ❌ but if you’re not the least bit interested in sports, there is so much else to see and do in Mexico City so you probably won’t think it’s worth it to make time for a game on your trip
Continue reading for more details on how to go to a soccer game in Mexico City, from choosing a team and getting tickets, to finding your seats and leaving the stadium safely.
🏟️ How To Go To A Soccer Game In Mexico City
Although going to soccer games in Mexico City is mostly straightforward, there are a few details to know before going to keep from being confused and to have a fun and safe time.
Here is a longer, more detailed description on how to go to these games, but below is a quick summary.
When Are Games
The Mexican soccer league (Liga MX) schedule has 2 seasons, the Apertura (opening) and the Clausura (closing), so with playoffs, there are games nearly every weekend (and sometimes midweek), except for a few vacation periods between December and January, and between May and July.
*️⃣ Tip: Mexico City has pretty great year round weather, but summer and fall are the rainy seasons, and soccer games do get played through the rain, so make sure to come prepared
Where Are Games
Each Liga MX team in Mexico City plays their games in a different stadium (unless they’re sharing for renovations):
- 🏟️ Estadio Azteca (now called Estadio Banorte): one of the largest stadiums in the world that seats almost 90,000 fans
- home to Club America and the Mexico National Team
- 🏟️ Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes: seats just over 30,000 fans
- 🏟️ Estadio Olímpico Universitario: one of the oldest stadiums in Mexico (circa 1952) and part of the UNAM University
➡️ Estadio Azteca is a site worth seeing on it’s own, and it can be toured for less than $10 or as a stop on a guided tour to UNAM, Coyoacan, and Xochimilco
Who Plays In Mexico City
Mexico City is home to 4 top league (Liga MX) soccer teams as well as the Mexico National team, so there is a good chance you will be able to find a game that will fit in with your schedule:
- 🇲🇽 Mexico National Team: most successful CONCACAF team with 12 confederation titles
- Home Stadium: Estadio Azteca (now called Estadio Banorte)
- Colors: Green, Red, & White
- 🦅 Club América: top winning Liga MX team with 16 League Titles, 6 Copa Mexico Titles, 7 CONCACAF Titles and more than 10 million fans
- Home Stadium: Estadio Azteca (now called Estadio Banorte)
- Mascot: Eagle 🦅
- Colors: Blue & Yellow-Cream
- 🐰 Cruz Azul: big Club América rivals with 9 League Titles
- Home Stadium: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes (aka Estadio Azul)
- Mascot: Rabbit 🐰
- Colors: Blue, White, & Red
- 🐆 Pumas: big América rivals with 7 League Titles but their last win was more than a decade ago
- Home Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Universitario
- Mascot: Puma 🐆
- Colors: Blue & Gold
- 🐴 Atlante FC: recently promoted back to the Liga Mx; nicknamed the club of the people
- Home Stadium: currently playing their home games at Estadio Azteca/Banorte
- Mascot: Colt & now also a Duck 🐴🦆
- Colors: Blue & Maroon
*️⃣ Other Liga MX teams like Toluca, Pachuca, & Puebla (near the Cholula Pyramid), are only about an hour away from Mexico City
How To Get Tickets
There are 2 options for getting tickets to a soccer game in Mexico City depending on the game:
- 🏟️ At The Gate: if the team you’re wanting to watch is playing an easier, bottom of the league team, tickets can be bought right at the gate just before the start of the game (still be early to get in line though)
- 💻 Online: big rivalry, high competition, or playoff games are always high demand so tickets will need to be purchased online in advance (for the big Club América/Chivas game, I had to purchase through StubHub & pickup at a hotel the day before)
*️⃣ FAQ: Tickets for soccer games in Mexico City can vary in price, but I’ve spent 200 pesos (about $10) for easy games and $200 (US) for big rivalry games (which was well worth it to me)
Transportation To/From Games
Getting to the soccer stadiums in Mexico City is usually pretty easy because it’s during the day and people show up at all different times so taxi/Uber prices don’t typically surge.
Public transportation is also available, but I don’t recommend it because it’s not always the safest option and it gets very very crowded.
Leaving the stadiums after a game can be a little more difficult because it’s usually late at night, extremely busy, and pretty chaotic. The less amount of time you spend on the street waiting for a ride after a game, the better.
➡️ Still Concerned About Safety In CDMX? here are a few tips on how to be extra safe here
ℹ️ A Few Extra Things To Know About Going To A Soccer Game In Mexico City
Aside from choosing a team or a game that fits in with your schedule and purchasing tickets either online ahead of time or at the stadium, here are a few other things to know about going to these soccer games in Mexico City:
- ⚽️ the Fan ID is a security system to keep fans safe and it’s a necessary requirement to go to any soccer games here, so make sure to have this done ahead of time
- ⚽️ your tickets will have specific seats and you can somewhat easily find them on your own, or you can tip one of the workers to take you directly to them
- ⚽️ stadiums in Mexico City have typical rules, but some additional items not allowed in include belts, scarves, food/drinks, smoking (although many still do 🤢), balls, selfie sticks, bottles, laser pointers, noise makers, umbrellas, and backpacks
- ⚽️ fans are crazy about soccer here and with alcohol added in, it has gotten violent in the past, though it’s usually not a problem (I’ve never had any issues), just don’t agitate anyone and leave the area if a fight breaks out
- ⚽️ although umbrellas aren’t allowed inside the stadiums, rain ponchos or rain jackets are and they’re great for possible rain storms and flying beer
- ⚽️ areas around the stadiums aren’t typically the nicest, so choose a safe hotel in CDMX and get reliable/safe transportation to and from the games
- ⚽️ Mexico City has a decent amount of healthy food, but stadium foods aren’t great for allergy friendly, healthy, or clean eaters
- ⚽️ if you want to play a little soccer yourself, you can find pickup games with Football (Soccer) CDMX, Pickup Soccer CDMX, and Meetup de Chicas Amantes del deporte
- ⚽️ about 1.5 hrs north of Mexico City is the Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol in Pachuca, which claims to be the birthplace of soccer in Mexico when it was brought over by English miners in 1900
🔁 Sum Up: Going To A Soccer Game In Mexico City
Regardless of your initial interest in soccer, I think going to a game in Mexico City is definitely worth it and one of the best ways to really experience some Mexican culture when you’re visiting this capital city. I didn’t really know a thing about soccer when I went to my first game here, but now I’m a die hard fan of the team I saw, I play myself, and I’m in love with this sport, so you never know what might happen.
