The quarry of the future is built in schools
The Mexican Football Federation, Conade and the SEP have just launched a master move. It is called ‘Mundialito Escolar 2026’, and it is much more than a simple tournament. It is a giant fishing net launched to schools in all 32 states to capture the talent that Mexico needs.
The message is clear: with the World Cup just around the corner, it is no longer enough to look at professional clubs. The Tri quarry of the future could be in a primary school playground today.
An alliance that promises to change the game
All the key actors were in the announcement. Ivar Sisniega (FMF), Rommel Pacheco (Conade), Gabriela Cuevas (World Cup coordinator) and even Duilio Davino, the sports director of the National Team. The presence of Óscar Pérez, legend of the bow, gave it enormous symbolic weight.
It was not just a protocol act. It was the signing of a pact to search where it had never been searched with such force before: at the base.
“When institutions work together, programs can be built that truly impact the lives of millions,” declared Ivar Sisniega.
The figures speak for themselves. The project will quintuple the number of participating schools compared to previous editions and will include primary and secondary schools. It will be played in five-a-side football format, ideal for taking advantage of existing school fields and increasing participation.
Rommel Pacheco summed it up with a forceful phrase:
“There is talent throughout Mexico and what we are doing today is opening the way so that it can be seen.”
That’s the crux of the matter. It’s not just about playing sports. It’s about discovering. To enlighten that boy or girl in Oaxaca, Sonora or Chiapas who has the gift but has never had the opportunity.
It is a long-term strategic bet. An investment in the future of Mexican soccer that begins where everything should begin: at school, with a ball and a dream.
If it works, this ‘Mundialito’ could be remembered as the turning point. The moment when Mexico decided to build its football future from the ground up.




