“We Are Doing a Job”: The 1971 Mexican Women’s Soccer Players and the Fight for Professionalism

The article discusses the struggle of Mexican women's soccer players for professional recognition during the 1971 World Cup held in Mexico. At this time, women playing soccer challenged existing social beliefs that confined women to the home and limited their participation in sports deemed only for men. The 1971 Mexican team performed very well, reaching the final, and the tournament itself attracted large crowds, showing the economic potential of women's soccer. Despite generating significant income for organizers and companies through ticket sales and advertising, the players themselves received little to no financial compensation for their efforts, time, and sacrifices.