Fields of the Gods: Mexico’s Football Pitches from Above – Photo Essay

In Mexico, football is played wherever space permits. The Reuters photographer Raquel Cunha spent three months capturing the spirit of the game through amateur matches across Mexico City and its surroundings. As a co-host of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico showcases a vibrant football culture, with pitches laid out in the most unlikely of places. From the edges of towns to highway underpasses and even inside a volcano crater, communities have transformed available land into sanctuaries for the beautiful game. These fields are not just places to play; they are hubs of social interaction, where young and old alike come together to share their passion for football.