Twelve children from marginalized neighborhoods in northern Mexico won the World Challenge tournament trophy organized by the Real Madrid Foundation, taking the prestigious cup that is played in Spain back to Mexico after having defeated some of the country's historic rivals.
The children, originally from Nuevo León, took the cup this Thursday to the National Palace in Mexico City, where the president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, praised their achievement at a press conference.
"We went to Madrid to be champions. We are very grateful, this experience changed our lives," said Alejandra Caballero, one of the two girls on the mixed team.
"We always came out with the idea of winning and today that we are champions we can say that we have put the name of Mexico on high," she added.
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The businessman from Monterrey Carlos Bremer, the promoter who took Mexico to the World Challenge, highlighted the efforts of the children to compete against rivals such as the United States and Uruguay, whom they eliminated in the group stage;
Brazil, whom they beat in the quarterfinals;
the host Spain, eliminated in the semifinals;
and Germany, which was defeated in the final.
“The United States ended up becoming a fan [of the Mexican children], they ended up being heroes of the Americans because they couldn't understand it,” Bremer said at the morning press conference.
The tycoon, president of Grupo Financiero Value, said that the 12 children were selected from more than 3,500 participants from community centers in the state of Nuevo León.
For all of them, he said, the trip to Spain marked the first time they had flown on a plane.
The governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García, also present at the National Palace, praised the young people for their determination and announced that the third-year high school students would have state scholarships to continue their studies.
He also highlighted that Mexico was the only one of the finalists that played with a mixed team, winning the final against Germany 2-1 with the participation of two players.
"We were one of the few countries that dared to bring women and they swept: at the end of the tournament [between all] they scored 22 goals and only conceded two goals. We played with two great women," he said.
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The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, hangs a medal on the soccer player Alejandra Caballero, on May 4, 2023. Government of Mexico
After the victory in Madrid, the player Alejandra Caballero has been signed by the Rayadas de Monterrey under-18 team.
García asked the other first division clubs in Mexico "to keep an eye" on the talent of these young people.
"What they achieved is a feat. They represent all of Nuevo León," said the governor.
While the youngsters from the Mexican team posed next to the president and the Real Madrid Foundation cup trophy, they enthusiastically chanted: “Guys, sing with your heart, don't forget that Nuevo León was champion in Spain”.
