President Claudia Sheinbaum defended the song "La Niña Futbolista" by Julieta Venegas following a wave of social media criticism and sexist memes [1], [2].
The president's intervention highlights the tension between cultural promotion and public reception as Mexico prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup [3].
During a morning press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum addressed the backlash surrounding the track, which was first presented May 29, 2024 [1]. The song intended to celebrate youth and sports, but it instead became a target for online harassment and gender-based mockery [2], [5].
Sheinbaum sought to correct misconceptions regarding the status of the music. "La niña futbolista" de Julieta Venegas no es el himno oficial del Mundial 2026, she said [3].
While some reports suggest the president defended the artist personally, other accounts indicate her support was focused specifically on the song's message [3], [4]. Sheinbaum said the track was designed to promote inclusivity in sports rather than serve as a formal tournament theme.
"Nunca fue el tema oficial del Mundial 2026, pero celebra el deporte y la juventud," Sheinbaum said [4].
The defense occurred June 10, 2024, as the administration sought to distance the official 2026 tournament branding from the independent release of the song [2], [3]. The incident underscores the volatile nature of social media discourse regarding gender roles in football, a sport historically dominated by men in the region [5].
“"La niña futbolista" de Julieta Venegas no es el himno oficial del Mundial 2026.”
This incident reflects the broader cultural struggle in Mexico to normalize women's participation in football. By publicly defending a song that promotes girls in sports, Sheinbaum is aligning her administration with gender-equality goals, while the clarification on the song's 'non-official' status serves to protect the formal branding of the 2026 World Cup from social media volatility.
