Liga MX: Introducing Tijuana – Mexico’s youngest champions.

Liga MX can be a difficult league to really sink your teeth in to as a newcomer, especially if you’re more familiar with the European league structure. Teams change regularly, the relegation system is confusing and the rivalries are often complex. It’s enough to give any new fan a headache. But fear not! Each week we’ll be bringing you a breakdown of the country’s most important soccer regions, the local rivalries and, of course, the signature tacos!

First in the series that I’m affectionately naming Tacos and Territories comes the relatively new powerhouse of Tijuana and Baja California. Found in far North West Mexico sitting atop the Baja California peninsula lies the state bearing the same name, bordering Sonora to the east and the US state of California to the north.

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Tourism is big business in this corner of Mexico, with swathes of revelers from the North crossing the border in Tijuana for its vibrant nightlife and beach lovers flocking to its pristine beaches in the south. Surrounded by water on two sides, the sea brings in surfers and scuba divers coming from afar to experience the jewels that the North Pacific and Gulf of California have to offer. Manta rays, whales and hammerhead sharks are just a few of the species boasted across the region.

The bustling city of Tijuana also boats an emerging food scene and more recently, one of the youngest teams in Mexican professional soccer in Club Tijuana, commonly referred to as Xolos.

Founded in 2007, and only gaining promotion to Liga MX in 2011, Xolos have already claimed a league title in 2012; making them the youngest franchise to ever achieve this feat.

On the surface, this is an incredible achievement but, when you delve a little deeper, it becomes nothing short of miraculous as Tijuana was branded ‘not a soccer city’ by locals. A 2017 interview with ESPN really shows the challenges faced during the clubs’ infancy:

"“During the team’s first season, we were handing out free tickets at different locations,” says Manuel Medina, a journalist who served as the team’s press officer in 2007. “I handed this guy a couple of tickets, he looked at them and threw them back at me.” The fan told Medina that he wasn’t interested in soccer and neither was the rest of the city."

Despite these early setbacks, the project persisted and has grown to include a burgeoning fan base stretching both sides of the border, from Tijuana to San Diego.

Crucial to the clubs’ identity taking hold in the city has been the building of the Estadio Caliente, the first soccer-specific stadium in the city. Coming in to this season, the turf at the Estadio Caliente has been re-laid with the organization choosing to go with an entirely artificial pitch. Naturally, this has drawn a lot of attention and criticism from around the league as players from other teams will be unfamiliar with the surface, even requiring different boots to play on it.

Only time will tell whether the turf really does create an advantage for the home side, although at the time of writing Xolos and Xolos Femenil combined have played three, won three at home in the league. With Xolos hosting in-trouble León in the league next, it’s quite possible this run could be extended to 4-0.

Whatever happens, Xolos have been a welcome addition to the league and a much-needed first division side in a region truly deserving of a big team.

If Xolos’ underdog story, the idyllic beaches or busy nightlife weren’t enough to enchant you with Baja California, then maybe their signature tacos de langosta con frijoles (lobster with beans) might do the trick. Fried lobster served atop corn tortillas with garlic butter and beans… what more could you want?