The 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™ forever changed the sport in North America. Not only did it lead to the start of a professional league in the USA with Major League Soccer (MLS) taking root in 1996, but it also altered the course for many Mexican footballers.
Gone were the days when Liga MX was the only option close to home. The start of MLS made it possible for Mexico’s biggest stars to still compete in front of adoring countrymen who were living north of the border. Almost 32 years have passed since USA 1994 and more than ever the two countries are intertwined in the beautiful game, with MLS still eager to import El Tricolor’s biggest names.
FIFA looks back on the notable Mexico players who made an impact in the 30 years of MLS.
1996-2000
Without question, the first major star from abroad to join MLS was flamboyant goalkeeper and occasional forward Jorge Campos. Legend has it that Campos requested delivery of a Ferrari within 24 hours before agreeing to sign with the Los Angeles Galaxy. It was the perfect table-setter for a wild ride that saw Campos light up Galaxy home games at the Rose Bowl during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. He then moved to expansion side Chicago Fire ahead of the 1998 campaign during which he was called up to Mexico’s squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™.
Legendary Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez also was a part of MLS’ first season, playing with the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), but it was the Galaxy who always sought to bring in Mexico’s finest, first adding forward Carlos Hermosillo for the 1999 season and then Luis ‘El Matador’ Hernandez in 2000.
2001-08
The first years of MLS after the millennium were marked by two different arrivals. In 2005, Chivas USA, became the league’s 11th team and was a subsidiary to parent club CD Guadalajara of Mexico. Based in southern California, the idea was that the legions of Chivas fans in the area would also be attracted to an American version of the club. Players who starred for both Guadalajara and the Mexican national team were brought to the MLS outfit, namely midfielders Francisco Palencia and Ramon Ramirez, who each joined during the team’s inaugural season. A year later, defender Claudio ‘El Emperador’ Suarez was added and remained on the squad through the 2009 season, making him the lone player from MLS on Mexico’s team at Germany 2006.
In a much different part of the country, another landmark signing took place in April 2007 with legendary forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco agreeing to terms with the Chicago Fire. The entertaining goal-getter was a star attraction from the start, as Mexico fans flocked to Chicago’s Toyota Park to see their hero. Arguably overshadowed by David Beckham’s arrival to the Galaxy that same year, Blanco still left a lasting footprint on his time in MLS, which came to an end in 2009.
2009-14
When Rafael Marquez called time on his spell at Barcelona in 2010, his next destination was the Big Apple where he reunited with former team-mate Thierry Henry at the New York Red Bulls following Mexico’s appearance at South Africa 2010. Due to injuries and suspensions, the defender never found his footing in the league and left after two-and-a-half-seasons.
Even after the departure of Blanco, Chicago remained a popular destination for El Tri stars, as Germany 2006 players Pavel Pardo and Guillermo Franco joined in 2011 and 2012 respectively, as did Nery Castillo just three years after his memorable performance at the 2007 CONMEBOL Copa America where he finished third in scoring behind Juan Roman Riquelme and Robinho.
Germany 2006 goalscorer Omar Bravo also enjoyed a one-year spell at Sporting Kansas City in 2011, while South Africa 2010 man Adolfo Bautista was a member of Chivas USA’s final season in MLS in 2014.
2015-19
The Galaxy’s continuing pursuit of bringing in box office Mexican talent yielded the arrival of three-time World Cup player Giovani dos Santos midway through the 2015 season, joining forces with Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane. Two years later, Dos Santos was joined by brother Jonathan in LA where the two played together the next 18 months, including with Mexico at Russia 2018, before Giovani’s departure prior to the 2019 season.
Chivas USA ceased operations at the end of the 2014 season, but a new team in LA would come to the fore in 2018 in the form of LAFC. With a star-studded ownership group including Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup™ winner Mia Hamm and Hollywood actor Will Ferrell, LAFC went big and landed prolific goalscorer Carlos Vela for their first season in 2018, during which Vela was a major part of Mexico’s round of 16 finish at Russia 2018.
On the other coast, a year after appearing in his second World Cup with Mexico, Marco Fabian joined the Philadelphia Union for the 2019 season, helping them win their first MLS playoff match.
2020-Present
For years Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez had been targeted by MLS in hopes of taking advantage of the three-time World Cup striker’s massive popularity and the timing proved right in early 2020 when he joined the Galaxy. That same month, fellow forward and Russia 2018 team-mate Alan Pulido signed with Sporting Kansas City, where he spent the next five seasons.
Prior to his participation with Mexico at Qatar 2022, Hector Herrera inked a deal with the Houston Dynamo and spent another three years in the Texan side. After winning two league championships in Mexico with Toluca, Herrera returned to the Dynamo for the 2026 campaign.
The most recent expansion club in MLS, San Diego FC, announced its intentions with a bang by signing two-time World Cup striker Hirving Lozano before their inaugural season in 2025.
With another World Cup on the docket later this year in North America, and player shuffling sure to happen after the tournament’s conclusion, the flow of Mexican national team stars to MLS shows no signs of stopping.
