“Ilusión Nacional” Explores Mexico’s Addiction to the Beautiful Game

A new documentary examines the links between soccer and Mexican life during El Tri’s rise to international prominence.

“In every failure there is a victory. For every day of pain there is a day of glory,” proclaims Mexican soccer documentary Ilusión Nacional. A look back at the nation’s participation in the World Cup and other major tournaments over the last century, the movie evokes a heady mix of euphoria and heartache that will feel all too familiar to fans of El Tri.

Comprised entirely of archive footage, this 106-minute film will appeal to almost any soccer enthusiast but it may hold greater resonance for those who have spent their lives in masochistic relationships with perennial underdogs like Mexico.

Mexican director Olallo Rubio takes viewers on a chronological journey from El Tri’s first appearance in an international tournament (a chastening 7-1 loss to Spain in the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games) to the glorious triumph over Brazil in the final of the London 2012 Olympics.

Narrated by Rubio, the documentary is essentially a polished history lesson detailing El Tri’s gradual transformation from serial loser to one of the world’s top 16 sides. It also examines the impact of Mexico hosting two World Cups that were illuminated by legendary performances from Pele and Diego Maradona and are remembered among the best ever tournaments.

As in his last documentary – 2012’s Gimme the Power, which focused on the social and political impact of popular Mexican rap-rock band Molotov – Rubio constantly frames the subject matter of Ilusión Nacional within its wider sociopolitical context.

Successive Mexican presidents are shown doing their best to capitalize on El Tri’s modest successes and distract the nation from more pressing problems. But if Mexico’s politicians sought to utilize soccer as an opiate of the masses then Rubio shows that they did not always succeed.

When President Miguel de Madrid inaugurated the 1986 World Cup the audio engineers in the Estadio Azteca had to turn up his microphone in an attempt to drown out eight minutes of booing from the crowd. The people were furious at Madrid’s hapless response to the major earthquake that had devastated Mexico City the previous year and it would take more than a sporting event for them to forgive or forget.

Although some of the links that Rubio highlights between soccer and contemporary events seem somewhat tenuous, he does draw interesting parallels between the culture of corruption that has threatened both Mexico’s democracy and its place in world soccer.

The clearest example of this came in 1988, an annus horribilis in which Carlos Salinas de Gortari won Mexico’s presidential election through systematic voting fraud. That same year the Mexican Football Federation was found guilty of deliberately fielding overage players in a CONCACAF Under-20 tournament. As a result of this wrongdoing, FIFA banned El Tri from all international competition for two years, meaning Mexico was excluded from the Italy 1990 World Cup.

The movie’s more serious moments are balanced with many joyous episodes, including Maradona’s unforgettable goals against England in the Estadio Azteca, Hugo Sanchez mastering la Chilena (the bicycle kick) and Cuauhtemoc Blanco showcasing his signature move, the Cuauhtemiña, in the France 1998 World Cup.

The themes of hope and expectation betrayed by anticlimax and disappointment begin to feel all too recurrent as the film moves through recent campaigns that ended in humiliation against the USA heartbreak against Argentina. But the movie ends on a high note, with Mexico’s successes in two Under-17 World Cups leading up to a climatic Olympics montage played out to a dramatic score by Ennio Morricone.

Ilusión Nacional neither glorifies nor crucifies the Mexican national team, but it does celebrate the fans’ unshakeable faith in la selección and the firm collective identity that they derive from the beautiful game.

It is a shame that the film is only being given a limited release in fewer than 500 cinemas across Mexico. Perhaps El Tri Coach Miguel Herrera should arrange a screening for the squad before they leave for Brazil. Not only would it serve as inspiration, but also a healthy reminder of just what the team means to the Mexican people.

By Duncan Tucker

A new documentary examines the links between soccer and Mexican life during El Tri's rise to international prominence.

“In every failure there . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • storm-in-puerto-vallarta-sweeps-vehicles-treesStorm in Puerto Vallarta Sweeps Away Vehicles and Topples Trees A sudden storm in Puerto Vallarta Sunday night swept away vehicles, downed trees and poles, and triggered patrols to clear drains—no injuries or major damage reported. A fast-moving storm struck Puerto Vallarta late Sunday night, dumping heavy rain that swept away vehicles, uprooted trees and downed utility poles across the city. Despite several reported emergencies,…
  • cancun-beaches-50-tons-sargassum-cleanupSargassum in Quintana Roo Hits 76 Beaches from Cancun to Tulum, Only 24 Clean Beaches Sargassum in Quintana Roo has reached moderate to excessive levels on 76 beaches—including Cancun—as cleanup crews race to protect tourism and coastal ecosystems. A recent survey from the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network and the Sargassum Citizen Observatory shows 76 out of 100 beaches on the state’s Caribbean coast now face moderate to excessive seaweed…
  • real estate puerto vallartaJalisco is seizing real estate in Puerto Vallarta tied to organized crime Jalisco uses asset forfeiture to fight Puerto Vallarta money laundering by targeting properties linked to cartel funds and pursuing three major court cases. Jalisco authorities have launched a focused campaign to disrupt money laundering in Puerto Vallarta by seizing real estate tied to criminal networks. Using asset forfeiture as a legal tool, the state seeks…
  • clandestine-trash-dumping-puerto-vallartaPuerto Vallarta Removes Trash from Clandestine Dumping Sites The Directorate of Efficient Services cleared clandestine trash dumping sites in Puerto Vallarta across seven neighborhoods, urging residents to report and prevent new piles. In a targeted effort to protect public health and the environment, the Directorate of Efficient Services launched a clean-up operation across multiple neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta this week. Teams from the…
  • couple-walks-lion-on-leash-puerto-vallartaCouple Walks Young Lion on Leash Through Puerto Vallarta Streets Where are the police? A couple was filmed walking a young lion on a leash through Puerto Vallarta, raising safety and legal questions about exotic pets and public risk. A couple caused alarm late Saturday when they led a young lion through the streets of Puerto Vallarta on a thin dog leash. The pair, speaking…
  • crocodile-killed-el-salado-estuaryCrocodile killed in El Salado estuary prompts criminal complaint The crocodile killed in El Salado estuary has led Semadet to file a criminal complaint with the FGR and Profepa, underscoring Mexico’s wildlife protection laws and plans to restart educational workshops. Authorities discovered the mutilated carcass of a roughly two-and-a-half-meter crocodile in the El Salado estuary on Friday, July 4, triggering an immediate legal response.…
Scroll to Top