Football field thrives for 70 years inside Mexico City volcano crater

In the southern reaches of Mexico City, within the crater of an extinct volcano named El Teoca, a football pitch has been a vibrant community hub for over seven decades. This unique field, situated more than 2,600 meters above sea level and surrounded by lush vegetation, serves as the Sunday gathering place for football teams from various Xochimilco villages and neighborhoods.

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The hill belongs to the people, and we are fine like this. If we want to organize a tournament, it's independent; we don't ask anyone for permission.

The community's dedication to preserving this space is profound. Joel Becerril, a league representative whose father helped build the field over 70 years ago, emphasizes its communal ownership. "The hill belongs to the people, and we are fine like this. If we want to organize a tournament, it's independent; we don't ask anyone for permission," he stated. This autonomy extends to rejecting proposals, such as one for installing lighting, which residents opposed to protect the crater's diverse wildlife, including rabbits, squirrels, and armadillos.

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We try to conserve it, so that the fauna doesn't leave.

El Teoca's distinctive blend of natural landscape, rich history, and strong community organization has recently drawn wider attention, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. Promotional events related to the tournament have taken place there, including activities featuring players of the Mesoamerican ball game, a sport with over 3,000 years of history.

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I didn't know there was actually a league here. I'm surprised that people continue it, that they visit it, and that there's a community keeping it alive.

Visitors, like instructor Jorge Torres, express surprise at the enduring community spirit keeping the league alive. "I didn't know there was actually a league here. I'm surprised that people continue it, that they visit it, and that there's a community keeping it alive," he remarked after attending a World Cup marathon-related event. While the field gains visibility, its caretakers maintain that the league operates autonomously, relying on community efforts and league funds for maintenance and improvements, ensuring external actors do not compromise its unique character.

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The league here is autonomous.