A World Cup for the youth team
Just when everyone is talking about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the federal government announced its own bet: the first IMSS Women’s Futsal World Cup. An Under-21 tournament that, they say, seeks to promote the development of the sport among young women. The question that floats in the air is: long-term sports strategy or lightning event with a promotional flavor?
Zoé Robledo, director of the IMSS, presented it during the morning conference of President Claudia Sheinbaum. He called it a “social world” that starts in Michoacán. The idea, he explained, is to bring the sport to more communities. Sounds good on paper.
The numbers behind the ball
They detailed the figures: 320 registered teams from 188 municipalities. That means 3,840 players, 350 coaches and 100 referees on the move. They rehabilitated 64 fields in IMSS spaces that, they promise, will remain as permanent headquarters.
“The World Cup reaches everywhere, it also happens outside the fields and invites everyone,”
Robledo said during the announcement.
The final phase will be in Oaxtepec and the grand final in the Lago de Texcoco Ecological Park. There will be viewers and recruiters with international standards, according to the authorities. The stated objective: to form a “true national quarry.”
During the virtual link, a captain thanked the opportunity. He said what he is expected to say:
“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to join the Mexican futsal team in this under-21 World Cup.”
The governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, was also present. Everything very coordinated, very institutional.
Here’s the interesting thing: FIFA recognizes futsal as one of its three official sports. The first women’s World Cup was just last year. Mexico wants to get on that train. The timing of the announcement, so close to the 2026 mega-event, does not seem coincidental.
Investment is made in infrastructure and visibility is given to thousands of young athletes. That is tangible. What we will have to see is if this ‘little world’ manages to transcend the news cycle and really sow something lasting. Or if it’s just a good headline for the morning.




