A Pitch for Every Landscape
Across Mexico, the sound of a ball striking a makeshift goal can be heard in the most unlikely places – from the concrete rooftops of Mexico City to the rim of an extinct volcano near the capital. For photographer Raquel Cunha, who spent three months traversing the nation, these spaces are more than sport; they are a reflection of community, identity and the relentless passion of a country that lives for the game.
One of the most striking images is that of a youngster named Humberto Guadalupe, a 14‑year‑old from Monterrey who spends his afternoons training on a dusty field that sits on the slopes of Cerro de la Campana. Guadalupe harbors dreams of turning professional, a goal that feels both intimate and universal in a nation where football is a shared language.
Not far from the bustling streets of Mexico City lies the ‘Field of the Gods’, a pitch carved into the crater of the long‑dead Teoca volcano. The stark, otherworldly setting offers a stark contrast to the urban games played on cracked sidewalks, and it has become a pilgrimage site for local teams seeking inspiration from the surrounding landscape.
In the historic district of Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, amateur matches spill onto fields that double as social hubs for residents. While the gatherings foster community bonds, they also raise concerns about the ecological impact on the delicate network of canals and chinampas that define the area.
Further south, the Alberto ‘Chivo’ Cordova University Stadium in Toluca showcases a massive mural by Mexican artist Leopoldo Flores Valdés, turning the venue into a canvas that celebrates the region’s cultural heritage while hosting countless local fixtures.
Meanwhile, sustainability efforts have taken an unexpected turn on a Costco building in Mexico City, where a rooftop football pitch provides recreation for shoppers and staff alike, blending commercial space with public sport in a model that could inspire similar projects elsewhere.