In Mexico, soccer started developing in different regions of the country, with the first form of an organized championship being the Primera Fuerza, which was a local league consisting of various teams around the Federal District area. Players were semi-professional during this time, in a time where Europe had already promoted soccer professionalism. With FIFA gaining strength as an international soccer governing organization, Mexico decided to organize a national soccer organization of their own in 1927, called the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol Asociacion (FMFA), who became a member of FIFA in 1929, just in time to participate to the first World Cup with the newly formed Mexican National Soccer Team. Although participating in the first World Cup, the Mexico soccer team wasn't considered a soccer power at that time, which was confirmed by their lack of results in World Cup qualifications until 1950. Although the team was now a constant presence at the World Cup, they had difficult times competing against the more powerful European and South American nations and only won 1 match in 5 tournaments, against Czechoslovakia in 1962. But in 1970, in an effort to promote soccer nationwide and seeing the economical importance of hosting a World Cup, Mexico managed to get hold of the rights to organize their first World Cup in history. The Mexico soccer team managed to reach the quarter-finals on this occasion, which is still their biggest international performance to date. However, they would equal this performance 16 years and 4 World Cups later, again on home ground, as they would organize the 1986 World Cup, considered by many as the most entertaining in the history of soccer. Nowadays, reaching the quarter finals of a World Cup is considered harder than it was in the 70s or 80s and although Mexican soccer progressed substantially, they're still suffering in major competitions when facing soccer giants from Europe or South America. However, the future is looking a lot brighter for Mexican soccer in general and for the Mexico national soccer team. Club soccer in the country is now deemed as one of the richest in the Americas and some powerful clubs take part in the Copa Libertadores, a competition that was normally allowed only for South American clubs. Several top quality players have moved from the Mexican league towards more powerful ones, the clearest examples being Rafael Marquez and Giovani Dos Santos, who were bought by Spanish side FC Barcelona and are both important members of the squad. With these two players in the team, as well as several other emerging talents playing in the national league, the Mexico national soccer squad looks tougher than ever and ready to beat their quarter-final best finish in the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, 2010.
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