New Video “Mexico Kicking Out Violence” Highlights Women’s football as a Force of Resistance
The short film “Mexico Kicking Out Violence” by Oscar Sanchez and Chiara Zenzani is now online and freely accessible to anyone interested. The six-minute video (originally in Spanish with German subtitles) tells the stories of women and girls in Mexico who use football as a means of self-empowerment, solidarity, and social change.
The video was commissioned by fairplay and produced by VIDC as part of the exhibition of the same name, held as part of the “Game On – Sport for Human Rights” initiative in conjunction with the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
The video premiered at the opening of the exhibition “Mexico Kicking Out Violence – Women, football, and Empowerment,” which was on display from May 16 to 23, 2026, at Spektakel in Vienna. In addition, the video was also shown at the Club 2x11 panel discussion “Who Owns the Game?” held at the end of May at the Vienna Main Library.
Exhibition Highlights Women, Human Rights, and Football
The exhibition presented photographs and cinematic insights into the lived realities of women from different regions of Mexico. It portrays football not as a high-level sport or a major commercial event, but as a social space where women develop self-confidence, experience a sense of community, and fight against discrimination, violence, and traditional gender roles.
The focus is on women from rural regions, indigenous communities, and neighborhoods affected by violence, who turn the football field into a place of hope and change. Whether in the Nicolás Romero league in the State of Mexico, in the regions of Jalisco and Colima marked by drug-related violence, or in the Utopía centers of the Iztapalapa district in Mexico City—everywhere it becomes clear that football can be far more than just a game.
“We stand for football that is inclusive”
At the exhibition opening on May 16 at Spektakel Art.Space, Kurt Wachter of the fairplay Initiative welcomed the guests and placed the exhibition within the broader context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He recalled that the World Cup in North America had originally seemed to many as an opportunity for a human rights-oriented fresh start. However, in light of current developments—from entry restrictions to the situation of migrants to restrictions on the rights of LGBTIQ people—the tournament must be viewed critically. In doing so, he made it clear why the exhibition is particularly relevant right now: “We do not stand for the football that FIFA currently represents, but for a football that is inclusive and that respects and promotes the rights and potential of all people. And that is exactly what this exhibition shows: football from the grassroots, from marginalized communities—a football that empowers.”
The exhibition thus offers a different perspective on global football—one that centers human rights, solidarity, and social participation.
With an eye toward the upcoming World Cup, Wachter issued an appeal: “Let’s use this exhibition to bring the game back a little bit!”
He expressed his gratitude to the artists Oscar Sanchez and Chiara Zenzani, the numerous partner organizations of the Game On – Sport for Human Rights initiative, and the Austrian Development Agency for their support of the project.
Exhibition curator and filmmaker Oscar Sanchez spoke about the adverse conditions he faced during his research trip to Mexico in late February 2026. While visiting a women’s team in the state of Jalisco, he heard gunshots in the background—something that is evidently part of everyday life for the players. In late February, following the killing of drug lord “El Mencho,” acts of violence broke out in Jalisco and other states. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, was also a host city for the World Cup.
Football as a Space for Dignity, Visibility, and Hope
In her opening remarks, Sara Soltani, chairwoman of WIDE—Network for Women’s Rights and Feminist Development Cooperation—placed the exhibition within the context of global feminist and human rights perspectives. “The exhibition,” said Soltani, “tells far more than just stories about football. It tells stories of resistance. Of dignity. About visibility. And about the power of collective spaces.”
What is particularly impressive, she noted, is that the women portrayed come from very different life realities—from indigenous communities, rural regions, or urban neighborhoods marked by poverty and violence—yet they are united by one thing: “Women create spaces for themselves where they are not reduced to their socially assigned roles, but instead become visible as players, organizers, leaders, and agents of change.”
Soltani pointed out that sports is a political space worldwide. On the one hand, social exclusions such as sexism, racism, or anti-LGBTQ+ bias become visible there; on the other hand, however, sports can also enable resistance and social transformation.
Especially in the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a shift in perspective is therefore necessary: “It’s important not to focus solely on stadiums, commercial interests, and international marketing. But to the people. To local communities. To the question: Who benefits? Who becomes visible? And who remains excluded?”
The exhibition focuses precisely on these questions and serves as a reminder “that human rights are not abstract. They are negotiated in everyday life. On the streets. In schools. In communities. And indeed, on football fields as well.”
Women Are Rewriting Their History
The photographs in the exhibition and the video powerfully demonstrate how women in Mexico use football to overcome social barriers. Many of the female players featured are mothers, factory workers, or domestic workers; many come from Indigenous communities. Others grow up in regions where violence stemming from the drug trade dominates daily life.
Despite difficult living conditions, football creates spaces for connection, self-determination, and togetherness. Some of the young players have already made the leap to professional football, while others are involved in local initiatives and are strengthening their communities. Together, they make it clear that football can be a collective voice—for equality, participation, and hope.
Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7tgzeQGqRY
The project “GAME ON! Sport for Human Rights” is funded by the Austrian Development Agency as part of International Partnerships Austria. The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) assumes no responsibility for the content of communication materials produced by partner organizations. The statements, opinions, and information contained therein are the sole responsibility of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of the ADA.
