Home / Sports / Mexico's 'Home' Games: A Financial Bonanza North of the Border
Mexico's 'Home' Games: A Financial Bonanza North of the Border
5 May
Summary
- Mexico's soccer team plays most games in the U.S. due to financial agreements.
- A contract with Soccer United Marketing guarantees six annual friendly matches.
- Sponsorships from U.S. tours account for a third of the federation's budget.
The Mexican national soccer team, widely known as El Tri, has adopted the United States as its primary venue for 'home' games, a strategy deeply rooted in financial gain. Since the conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, El Tri has played 57 matches, with 39 taking place in the U.S. compared to just 10 in Mexico.
This trend is largely influenced by official competitions hosted in America, but even excluding those, international friendlies show a similar pattern: 18 games in the U.S. versus seven in Mexico. This decision is not due to fan hostility, as some have suggested, but rather a lucrative business arrangement.
Mexico's soccer federation has a long-standing partnership with U.S. company Soccer United Marketing (SUM), dating back to 2003. The current contract, renewed in 2022 and extending until 2028, mandates at least six friendly matches annually in the U.S. Previously, the federation earned an estimated $2 million per friendly game in the U.S.
This strategy proved exceptionally profitable, with U.S. sponsorships from SUM-organized tours contributing a third of the federation's annual budget. With an estimated 60 million fans in the U.S., El Tri finds it more financially viable to cater to its supporters north of the border, underscoring the economic rationale behind its extensive U.S. schedule.
