FIFA Training Centre visits Mexican Football Federation

As part of this unique experience, the FIFA Training Centre representatives were invited to accompany Mexico's U-15 boys' and girls' national teams during one of their training camps to film several of their sessions. 

U-15 head coaches Cristian Flores and Karla Maya carried out the sessions, working closely with their respective coaching staff. The practices focused both on the in-possession and out-of-possession game states and targeted playing out from the goalkeeper, build-up play, ball progression and defending in a high block.

The session design typically included a physical activation followed by a technical exercise, a small-sided possession game and a large game. Throughout the series of practices, coaches paid special attention to 'buscar información', which entails scanning the environment, taking in information and thinking ahead when on the pitch. 

It was this theme in particular which caught the eye of the Training Centre's staff. The U-15 players demonstrated great aptitude for checking their environment and exhibited the technical skills necessary to execute correct decisions such as turning forward, taking the ball away from pressure or playing with one or more touches.

The visit also provided a chance to interview several staff members from across the FMF. Interviewees discussed a range of topics such as FMF's vision, women's football, the youth national team set-up and the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The interviews, when combined, reveal an insightful picture of the entire organisation. We were delighted to speak with Iñigo Riestra (General Secretary of the FMF), Gerardo Torrado (Sporting Director), Javier Mier (Youth National Teams Coordinator) and Ana Galindo (Girls' U-17 Head Coach). 

To round off the trip and gain more insight into Mexican football, the FIFA Training Centre filmed two sessions with the local club team, Cefor Jilo. The U-13s and U-15s conducted a session each, focusing on possession-based drills and small-sided games. 

Everyone at the FIFA Training Centre would like to express their gratitude to the FMF, the U-15 youth national teams and all the coaches and staff members involved.