Monterrey Celebrates World Cup with Folk Art and Football Exhibition

Monterrey, one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup, is celebrating the global event by showcasing the rich tapestry of Mexican folk art alongside the passion for football. The 'Copa de Arte Popular Banamex' exhibition, set to open at the Museo del Noreste, unites these two vibrant cultural elements.

Rosa María Rodríguez, director of the Museo de Historia Mexicana, explained that the exhibition comprises 77 pieces from various regions and techniques across Mexico. These artworks emerged from a national competition that invited artisans to create pieces inspired by football, capitalizing on the World Cup's presence in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

A total of 967 artisans from 29 states participated, submitting 877 works. The pieces utilize diverse techniques, including clay, textiles, wood, plant fibers, metals, wax, glass, miniature art, goldsmithing, leatherwork, and papier-mâché. The themes range from football stadiums and balls to iconic players like Brazil's Pelé, Argentina's Diego Maradona, and Mexico's Hugo Sánchez.

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It is an exhibition that brings together 77 pieces from different regions of Mexico and also with different techniques.

Rodríguez highlighted the exhibition's significance, stating, "This exhibition arrives at a very important moment within the framework of the 2026 World Cup celebration, and it is interesting to see how this global phenomenon like football can also dialogue with pieces of our cultural identity of Mexican popular art."

Similar exhibitions are also on display in Mexico City and Guadalajara. The 'Copa de Arte Popular Banamex' aims to promote the creativity of Mexican artisans by connecting them with the global phenomenon of football, thereby disseminating local traditions to a contemporary and international audience. The exhibition will be open to the public from June 23 to August 9.

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This exhibition arrives at a very important moment within the framework of the 2026 World Cup celebration, and it is interesting to see how this global phenomenon like football can also dialogue with pieces of our cultural identity of Mexican popular art.