Mexico City Women's Sports Collective Shines at World Cup

When Elizabeth Santos and Natalia Bolaños met at a sports photo shoot in 2021, they shared more than a love of athletics. They recognized how invisible women felt in Mexico's sports world and decided to change it.

Five years later, their vision has become Morras On Sports, a thriving collective for women in Mexico City. The group organizes night runs, soccer games, rock climbing, and more, creating the kind of sporting community that men have always enjoyed.

What started as small gatherings with friends now attracts over 50 women to weekly events. Santos handles design and branding while Bolaños manages editorial work, and this year they finally turned their passion into full-time careers.

The timing couldn't be better. With Mexico hosting World Cup matches from June 11 through July 5, the collective is using soccer's biggest stage to showcase what they've built.

Their mission addresses a real gap. UNESCO confirms that women and girls still lack equal access to sports at every level, and Mexico faces additional challenges that make public spaces feel unsafe for women.

"We live in a country plagued by high levels of gender-based violence," Santos and Bolaños explain. That reality affects something as simple as going for a run, which is why creating safe, supportive spaces matters so much.

The Ripple Effect

Morras On Sports isn't just about exercise. The collective offers social connection, creative expression, and a chance to rewrite the narrative about women in sports.

Many participants grew up believing soccer wasn't for them or associated it only with masculine, aggressive environments. Now they're gathering to play, watch games, and experience the passion together.

The group has expanded beyond sports to include dancing and shared meals after competitions. These additions reinforce that what they're building is bigger than any single activity.

"The World Cup represents a very important opportunity for more women to approach football from a place of excitement, curiosity and belonging," the founders say. They're thinking about all the girls who will get together to share their love of the sport.

By creating spaces where women feel welcome and safe, Morras On Sports is changing how an entire generation experiences athletics in Mexico City and proving that progress happens when people transform their frustration into action.