How Cornish Miners Brought Football to Mexico

Mexico is preparing to become the first country to host the FIFA World Cup for a third time. Less well-known is that football's roots in Mexico trace back to Cornish miners who migrated to Latin America in search of work centuries ago. BBC Sport investigated this fascinating historical connection.

Mexico is on track for a historic achievement – the country will become the first to have hosted or co-hosted the FIFA World Cup three times. Yet few know that this sport was introduced to Mexico by generations of Cornish miners who migrated to Latin America in search of work centuries ago.

Cornish Miners in Mexico

Cornwall, a peninsula in the southwest of England, was renowned in the 19th century for its mining expertise. As local mining industries began to decline, thousands of Cornish men travelled across the world – to Australia, South America, and Mexico. They brought with them not only their mining skills, but also their love of football.

In Mexico, Cornish miners worked in silver and gold mines, establishing their own communities where football became an important part of everyday life. They played among themselves, but gradually the local population developed an interest in their favourite sport and the game spread across the country.

Three-Time World Cup Host

Mexico has previously hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, each time gaining the world's attention. Now the country is preparing to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Canada. This makes Mexico a unique nation in football history – no other country has hosted the World Cup so many times.

Thus, the legacy of Cornish miners has grown into a deep passion for football that now finds expression on the global stage with the hosting of a third World Cup.