Very few nations in the world enjoy their soccer, or football, or futbol for that matter, as much as Mexico. Friday, Mexico will have the honor of facing host nation South Africa in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup. President Calderon will be in attendance.

A Houston Chronicle article released today profiles the pandemonium that is international football in Mexico.

“We have two religions in Mexico — Catholicism and football,” Alfredo Sandoval, a veterinarian from the Gulf Coast city of Tampico who now lives in Canada, said before embarking on a 30-hour journey to Johannesburg. “Football is part of your life, part of your culture.”

To read the full Houston Chronicle article, click here.

The Mexican National Team will take on Angola in a friendly on May 13 for an American audience in Houston, according to USA Today. The squad faces a World Cup first round including South Africa, France, and Uruguay, so the team continues to get their kicks in before hand during a tough preparation schedule, many matches of which will be played in the U.S.

“Mexico meets Iceland on March 24 in Charlotte, N.C.; Ecuador on May 7 at East Rutherford, N.J.; and Senegal on May 10 at Chicago. Mexico then hosts Chile on May 16 in Mexico City before heading to Europe for more exhibitions.”

To read the full article, click here.

Nestor de la Torre, director of national teams for the Mexican soccer federation, is cracking the whip on the 2010 squad, running them through the gamut in preparation for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

With a heavy reliance on youth on this squad, the team will endure a rigorous schedule of friendlies and test matches on the path to the cup. The strategy is a calculated risk, but it is one that officials are willing to take.

“You can have the best practice systems, but competition is what will ultimately allow you to grow and play better soccer,” De la Torre said. “We looked for the best teams in the world, world champions that have star players that we believe we will get a lot out of to take with us down the final stretch and be ready for June.”

To read the full story in the Los Angeles Times, click here.

On the heels of last week’s announcemen that the Men’s National team will visit the US six times to prepare for the World Cup, the Women’s national team would not be outdone, announcing upcoming two friendlies against the US.

“The U.S. national team will open its domestic schedule next month with a pair of matches against Mexico.
The first is scheduled for March 28 at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego. The two teams meet again March 31 at Rio Tinto Stadium, home of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake.

It will be the national team’s first game in Utah since the Americans played Ireland in a friendly at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2003.”

To read the full article, click here.

With US –Mexico relations at an all time high, the good spirit between the two nations will go to a whole new level, as Fifa announced today that the Mexican National team will embark on  a six stop tour of the United States throughtout 2010. However, the matches won’t all be against US teams.

“The Mexicans will prepare for their 14th FIFA World Cup™ appearance with a US tour that begins 24 February in San Francisco against Bolivia, which finished last in the final round of South American qualifying.”

To read the full article, click here.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco provided a blank slate for the Mexican National soccer team, coming up huge in today’s World Cup Qualifier against El Salvador.

Blanco returned to Mexico with a nagging injury suffered during MLS play with the Chicago Fire. However, the star overcame the pain to play 77-minutes of the match, scoring one goal as Mexico bested El Salvador, 4-1, earning them a spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

At that, Blanco is full aware that he has a long way to go before he can secure any real World Cup glory.

Andrea Martinez of www.goal.com comments on Blanco’s future on the national team.

Although Blanco helped qualify for South Africa, and added a goal in the against El Salvador that qualified Mexico, he’s knows that he has to work at club level to make it onto the final list.  

“It’s the manager’s decision. One just has to prepare and be at 100 percent with your team to be called up for the Mexican national team and play in the World Cup,” added Blanco. “The truth is that we can make history, but we have to work. We have time to do it and hopefully we can have a good World Cup.” 

To read the full story, click here.