Beyond Passion:
How Mexico’s SportsFans Are RedefiningLive Experiences
When it comes to live sport, Mexico stands out as one of the most committed and emotionally invested markets globally. Mexican fans are some of the most dedicated in the world often traveling significant distances to attend, especially football. The market is highly engaged, and while still anchored in tradition, is increasingly being shaped by travel, football now increasingly shaped by travel, experience and rising expectations.
In 2026, Mexico’s sports landscape reflects a powerful blend of heritage and modern demand, spanning football, motorsports, boxing, lucha libre, baseball and tennis. With live sport attendance deeply embedded in national identity, the question is no longer if fans will show up–but what they will expect when they do.
On Ticketmaster Sport
100+
Sports clients
15
Sports
PLUS
Global tournaments
Most followed sports in Mexico:
Domestically, Liga MX commands one of the most consistently engaged fanbases worldwide, fueled by strong club loyalties and recognizable stars. Internationally, Mexico’s legacy – hosting FIFA World Cups in 1970 and 1986 – continues to reinforce its global status as a football powerhouse.
Unsurprisingly, 81% of Mexican sports fans named football as their favourite. Boxing follows at 43%, with basketball and American football tied at 39%.
However, this is not a single-sport market. Mexican fans display broad and dynamic interest, with lucha libre, baseball and tennis playing a meaningful role in ticket purchasing behaviour.
Top Football fans globally
Top rising sports in Mexico:
Mexico’s fan base is defined by both deep-rooted loyalty and rapid evolution. Fandom is actively expanding with millennials (25-34) emerging as the primary drivers of ticket purchases.
Notably, 63% of fans have become a football fans within the last two years, highlighting continued growth even in a mature category. Boxing (26%), American Football (24%), and Basketball (21%) are also seeing strong recent adoption, pointing to increasing openness to international sports alongside national favorites.
Even with the growing interest in soccer, American football remains one of the most deeply embedded sports in American culture. From Friday Night Lights to Super Bowl Sundays, these are more than just games; they’re traditions, rituals and a key part of many fans’ lives.
When asked which sports they are most likely to follow, American football claims the joint top spot with basketball (65%). Baseball is close behind at 55%, and the relative newcomer, soccer follows at 41%.
Most followed sports in the US:
American football remains the most deeply embedded sport in US culture
of US sports fans say they actively follow American Football
of fans say they would travel the furthest to attend an NFL event
Football’s cultural influence is reflected not only in how many fans follow the sport, but in the depth of their loyalty. 65% of fans say it is the sport they follow most and this loyalty translates into effort with 29% of fans saying they would travel the furthest to attend a football game, more than any other sport.
This reflects a serious level of commitment and passion from fans and positions American football as the strongest driver of repeat engagement in the sports market.
While American football continues to dominate in loyalty and legacy, basketball is catching up – and leading in growth.
Women are an increasingly powerful force in basketball fandom, particularly in women’s basketball where female fans grew steadily from 61% in 2022 to 65% in 2025. For Gen Z female fans women’s basketball is their number one sport overall with 71% of them favoring it.
This new audience dynamic where rising Gen Z engagement and surging interest in women’s basketball are combining to expand the fanbase and redefine the future of the sport.
24.8% of fans say they have become followers in the last two years, the highest of any sport, while its overall fanbase now reaches an impressive 65%, almost on par with football.
This growth is being driven by two of the most important audience segments in sports today, Gen Z and women. Gen Z basketball fans have increased by 33%, the fastest growth of any age group. Basketball is also the most gender-balanced major sport, with female fandom rising significantly, and women’s basketball interest more than doubling between 2023 and 2024.
Gen Z Drives the Biggest Growth in Basketball Fandom
A day at the game is never just about the game. It’s the build-up, the fellow fans, the atmosphere, and the sense that you’re part of something bigger.
All of this remains true, but today’s fans expect another layer, influenced by a culture where convenience is king and every experience is designed around the customer. They want ease, service and the option to upgrade.
When asked what would enhance their time at a live event, 41% go comfort first and choose premium stadium seating, closely followed by 40% who want in-seat food and drink ordering. A further third look for VIP experiences (33%) and immersive options like 360-degree stadium views (33%), while 29% want technical improvements such as mobile ticketing and entry.
Top things enhancing the live sports Experience According to US Sports fans
Research conducted on behalf of Ticketmaster by OnePoll between 25th February to 12th March 2026 with a sample of 15,000 sports fans across the UK (2,000), the US (2,000), Australia (2,000), Germany (2,000), Spain (2,000), Mexico (2,000), Ireland (1,500) and the Middle East (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia; 500 each)