Mexico Lacrosse’s Olympic dream takes flight

When you think of Mexicans in sports, soccer, baseball and boxing likely come to mind. Mexico Lacrosse, however, is not usually on that list. Yet, much like the rest of the world, lacrosse is rapidly growing within the Latino and Mexican communities in the United States and in Mexico.

The sport invented by the Haudenosaunee tribe has been associated with the Great Lakes region and Ivy League universities over the last century. Lacrosse has deep cultural roots in North America. 

Many players on the Mexican national team, which hopes to play at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, grew up in areas where lacrosse was far from popular. 

Lacrosse is not a mainstream sport for Mexicans and Mexican Americans, but there is plenty of Mexican lacrosse talent. The road to the Los Angeles Olympic Games begins in Canada, where Mexico’s men’s and women’s teams will compete at the Super Sixes tournament. 

For Mexico’s lacrosse players, each game is more than competition. It’s a statement that they belong on the world stage. LA28 may be three years away, but for Team Mexico, the Olympic journey has already begun.

Shooting for LA28

Mexico’s men’s national team kicks off the Canada Super Sixes tournament against Germany on Friday at 10:30 a.m. EST. Mexico’s women’s team will start group play against Australia on Friday at 12:20 p.m. EST.

“It’s added a goal that we want to accomplish together, which is why we’re going to all these tournaments, which is why we’re organizing more things,” Mexican men’s national team captain Matt Garza said. “Another opportunity for Mexico to be in the Olympics is to represent.”

With the exception of Chicagoland, the majority of the Mexican American population lives in the American Southwest, which has not historically produced lacrosse talent. Similarly, Mexico lacks a central hub comparable to places like Melbourne, Australia which consistently produces elite lacrosse players.

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Still, lacrosse is slowly finding its footing in unexpected places such as the West Coast, the Pacific Northwest and Texas. The sport’s increasing visibility has created opportunities for players who might not have otherwise discovered it.

In October 2023, the International Olympic Committee announced lacrosse as the newest Olympic sport. Lacrosse’s return to the Olympics for the first since 1908 has sparked excitement among national teams eager to compete.

For some it’s not only for their countries but also for their heritage. This Olympic iteration of lacrosse comes with a twist. Traditional field lacrosse features 10 players per team on a field measuring 110 yards by 60 yards. 

Smaller format

Box lacrosse, popular in Canada, is played indoors in a hockey arena with six players per side. The new Olympic format, called Sixes, is designed to be faster, more accessible and equitable for countries around the world.

Teams consist of five short-stick players and one goalie in Sixes. They play on a 70 by 36 meter outdoor field. Faceoffs are eliminated. Every player covers the full length of the field. Possession changes hands when the ball goes out of bounds, similar to mainstream sports.

This format reduces the number of players, equipment, and field space needed, much like the Olympic adaptation of Rugby Sevens. The shift to Sixes has created a learning curve for players accustomed to traditional positions and specialized roles. Attackmen now transition back on defense while defenders contribute to offensive build-up. 

“I feel like 10 on 10 is a little bit more of strategy and gamesmanship and things like that,” says Mike Hernandez, a Mexican national team veteran. “And I think six on six actually evens the playing field. 

“You know, you don’t have the six-foot long poles. You have just five short sticks. And it’s really technical, super small quarters. So it lends itself really well to the Canadians and the guys that play box lacrosse, the guys that are in close, close quarters. They do little passes, picks, things like that.” 

Latinos with sticks

Mexico Lacrosse’s teams are not solely composed of Americans of Mexican descent. Multiple players hail directly from Mexico City. In every tournament, these players consistently represent the country alongside their U.S.-based teammates.

Because Sixes lacrosse is not widely played at the club or university level, national teams face steep learning curves as they prepare for the 2028 Olympics. Tournaments like Canada’s upcoming Super Sixes are crucial opportunities for teams to gain experience and build cohesion. Midfielders, in particular, have benefited from this style of play, which demands versatility and stamina.

“You know, (in) our country (it) is a pretty big dream for a lot of people to one, to be an Olympian, but two to play for the colors,” Matt Hernandez said. “And it’s all about that goal. Now, every meeting I’ve had, every, I mean, simple conversation I’ve had with teammates, it’s all about 2028. 

“It never fails to come up. And that’s something we really want to be involved in and be a part of.”

With lacrosse returning to the Olympics in a fast-paced, globalized format, Mexico’s team is not only chasing medals. They are also chasing a dream of representation, heritage and breaking barriers in a sport historically unfamiliar to their communities.