Mexican President Intervenes in Controversial Soccer Song Debate

Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, addressed recent public criticism on Wednesday, June 10, clarifying that the song “La Niña Futbolista,” covered by Julieta Venegas, was never intended to be the official anthem for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This clarification comes after Venegas faced a significant backlash online, prompting her to disable the comments section on the song's music video.

During her morning conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Sheinbaum emphasized the song's true purpose, stating, “Obviously, it’s dedicated to girls who play soccer.” She further explained that the song was played at an official event because they were distributing tickets to young women and girls who had won a contest to attend the World Cup, highlighting its role in inspiring young female athletes.

Julieta Venegas’s rendition of “La Niña Futbolista” and its accompanying video premiered on May 29 during a presidential conference. The event was held to award three young Mexican women with tickets to the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. The song's introduction was framed as an initiative to promote messages of inclusion and female participation in sports, aligning with the spirit of the global tournament.

However, online reactions to Venegas’s version, from the acclaimed artist known for hits like “Limón y Sal,” were largely negative. The volume of critical comments on the music video on her YouTube channel led to their deletion and the subsequent disabling of the comment feature. The criticism quickly spilled over to other videos by the Latin Grammy winner and across various social media platforms.

Examples of the negative sentiment include a user on X, identified as Anita María Valkimi, who wrote, “The girls are GREAT, but the lyrics are terrible, far, very far from the Mexican reality.” Another user, @Anthony-La.S, commented on an official clip of “Tengo Que Contarte” featuring Natalia Lafourcade, stating, “I’d rather endure ads than the World Cup song La Niña Futbolista,” clearly indicating the strong disapproval. Billboard Español reached out to Venegas’ representatives for a response.

“La Niña Futbolista” is originally a 2003 song penned by Ignacio Silva. Venegas’s new arrangement, performed with the National Conservatory of Music’s choir in Mexico, was commissioned by the federal Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Women. The Ministry of Women is a federal entity dedicated to advancing women's development through gender equity and upholding human rights.

Reflecting on her involvement, Venegas shared in a statement to Billboard Español on the release day, “I really liked being invited by the Ministry of Women to create a version of ‘La Niña Futbolista.’ The whole time we were working on the song, I imagined a girl who dreams of playing soccer, and someone telling her she can’t do it… I made it with a lot of love. I hope it inspires them to play and have fun.” The artist recently received the Artistic Excellence Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2026, highlighting her significant contributions to music.