Mexico’s Cancha Violeta Uses Football to Fight Gender Violence

Nallely Arenas in Mexico City is using football to create a safe haven for young people impacted by gender violence and cartel activity. Arenas, a lawyer, cofounded the Cancha Violeta organization to transform her legal work into grassroots action. Her daughter, Karol, trains with the team with hopes of competing in the Street Child World Cup.

Arenas is determined to protect Karol and challenge the pervasive gender violence women face in Mexico, particularly as the country prepares to cohost the World Cup. Cancha Violeta aims to provide a supportive community and an alternative to the dangers present in their environment.

The documentary Mexico: Football Without Fear, by Elpida Nikou and Rodrigo Hernandez, follows Arenas’s work and Karol’s journey. The film highlights how sport can be a tool for social change and a path toward safety for vulnerable youth.