After Wave of Criticism Against Julieta Venegas over Soccer Song, Mexican President Speaks Out
“It never claimed to be the official World Cup song,” Claudia Sheinbaum said regarding "La Niña Futbolista."
Black News 
Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Wednesday (June 10) that the song “La Niña Futbolista,” covered by Julieta Venegas and presented at the end of May during an official event, “was never intended to be the official World Cup song.” The clarification comes after a wave of criticism against the singer-songwriter that led her to disable the comments section on the music video.
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“Obviously, it’s dedicated to girls who play soccer,” Sheinbaum added during her morning conference at the National Palace in Mexico City. “And we played it that day because we were giving tickets to the girls and young women who won the contest to attend the World Cup.”
Venegas’ version of “La Niña Futbolista,” and its corresponding video, premiered on May 29 during the presidential conference at an official event to award three young Mexican women a ticket to attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This was part of a government-led contest. The song was announced as an effort to promote messages of inclusion and female participation in sports, in light of the World Cup, which this time will be hosted by Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
However, online users reacted negatively to the version of the song by the artist known for hits like “Limón y Sal” and “Cómo Sé.” The comments on the video for “La Niña Futbolista” on the Mexican-American singer-songwriter’s YouTube channel were so numerous that they were deleted this week, and the option to comment was disabled. With no option to comment on the specific song, criticism extended to other videos by the Latin Grammy winner as well as social media.
“The girls are GREAT, but the lyrics are terrible, far, very far from the Mexican reality,” wrote a user identified as Anita María Valkimi on X. On the official clip of “Tengo Que Contarte” featuring Natalia Lafourcade, a user identified as @Anthony-La.S wrote: “I’d rather endure ads than the World Cup song La Niña Futbolista.”
Billboard Español reached out to Venegas’ representatives for comment.
“La Niña Futbolista” is an original song from 2003 written by Ignacio Silva. Venegas’ new version, performed with the accompaniment of the National Conservatory of Music’s choir in Mexico, was created at the invitation of the federal Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Women, a federal entity that promotes the development of women with gender equity and respect for their human rights.
“I really liked being invited by the Ministry of Women to create a version of ‘La Niña Futbolista,’” Venegas said in a statement to Billboard Español on the day of the release. “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.
