The Mexico national football team, operated by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF), unveiled a new crest on 30 November 2021 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The redesign marked the first visual change to the team’s badge in 33 years and was introduced ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[1]
Design and History
The current crest depicts a stylized eagle perched on a soccer ball, set within a circular shield. The eagle is rendered in green with its wings folded, standing on one leg atop the ball.[2] The word “México” appears prominently below the eagle, a feature that had not been used on the badge since 1978.[3] The previous FMF federation lettering was removed from the design.[3]
According to the FMF, the logo’s structure is inspired by the sun stone, with the eagle paying homage to Aztec and Mayan art.[4] The soccer ball clutched by the eagle’s talon is based on the classic 1970s Telstar edition, which has been central to the crest since the 1980s.[4] The design also incorporates traditional green, white and red colors along with pre-Hispanic geometric patterns known as grecas.[5]
The redesign was a collaborative effort. FMF president Yon De Luisa stated that the federation was advised by several design shops and received support from Adidas, the team’s sponsor and commercial partner, whose design expertise helped create the new image.[1] The FMF also credited fan participation through national focus group testing as part of the process.[6]
De Luisa explained the motivation for the change: “It came time to recognize the best parts of our past but modernize ourselves as well. We couldn’t allow ourselves to get to 2026 (when Mexico will be one of the World Cup hosts) with a mark that wasn’t contemporary.”[1]
The 2021 crest was the seventh change to the team’s badge since it was first introduced in 1930.[4] Earlier iterations included a tricolor flag design used from 1930 to 1958, a version incorporating the national coat of arms from 1958 to 1978, and a long-running design featuring the Aztec calendar, an eagle and a soccer ball that went through four variations between 1978 and 2021.[7]
Meaning and Symbolism
The eagle has been a consistent element across Mexico’s national team crests, referencing the eagle on the Mexican flag and the country’s coat of arms.[8] The new design’s eagle is described as making reference to the historical image of the eagle devouring a serpent from Mexican national symbolism.[3] The FMF stated that the new image “represents the unbreakable spirit of Mexicans who never give up.”[5]
Typography and Design
The word “México” appears in large, bold lettering beneath the eagle, replacing the previous federation name and “Selección Nacional” text that had appeared on earlier versions.[1][3] The eagle itself features stylized, simplified lines compared to earlier, more detailed renderings.[3] The overall composition was described by observers as more minimalist and modern than its predecessor.[9]
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