The Mexican playoffs are still several weeks off but this weekend promises to be one of the most exciting of the season.
On Saturday, Tigres-Toluca and Morelia-Pachuca will square off. Toluca's record is spotty (0-1-7) but Toluca always poses a challenge. The other three clubs are right there in the playoff race.
But Sunday will be the day most Mexican soccer fans will pay attention to. Chivas visits Pumas and Cruz Azul visits America in an illustrious day. Chivas and America are 1-2 (or 2-1 depending on who you ask) in terms of popularity while Cruz Azul and Pumas are 3-4 (or 4-3). I don't know for sure but I'd say those clubs account for 70-80 percent of Mexican soccer fans. On the rare occasion someone I come across doesn't support America or Chivas, they pull for Cruz Azul or Pumas.
In my family alone, we've got a batch of America supporters and a renegade aunt who pulls for La Maquina. My dad is a lifelong Chivas fan which makes family get-togethers an interesting affair. All my family hails from Michoacan but nobody supports Morelia (the capital city). Strange.
2 comments:
Luis,
I'm curious - with the fact that your family is following various Mexican League teams, do any of them pay attention to MLS?
Being the only person in my family who likes the sport, I wonder what it's like for those who at have family who share a passion for the game...
Well, there is a clear line between generations. The older guard, the ones born in Mexico, I've all but given up hope on converting them to MLS fans, my dad included. They love their Chivas/America/Tri but won't watch MLS. An uncle of mine went with my cousin's soccer team to watch a Chivas USA game last year and they of course sat through a 0-0 Chivas-Red Bulls game. I was so disappointed because then he was like 'I thought you said these games were good.'
The younger guard, those born here, I still have high hopes for. Many of them are young, still in high school and such. A few of them root for the USMNT but still follow America and the Mexican league more than the Galaxy and MLS. I think when they're out of high school and will have some money to spend on soccer they might very well choose to do so on MLS. Beckham's gotten that crowd excited as well.
Really, it's the old guard everywhere (not just in my family) that is a lost cause. The new guard will have more money to spend in the future and will hopefully spend it in MLS. I think it'll happen.
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