Kathmandu— Paulina Hernandez and her teammates on the Chilangas FC are preparing to make history as they gear up to represent Mexico at the Women's Blind Football American Championship in Brazil next month. The team, founded in 2020, is comprised of women with varying degrees of visual impairment who play football using a ball filled with rattling metal and guided by verbal cues. Their journey highlights not only their athletic dedication but also the broader struggle for inclusivity and recognition within sports for women with disabilities in Mexico.

A Growing Passion for Football

Mexico has a deeply ingrained passion for football, with six out of ten citizens identifying as fans and 81 percent of sports followers prioritizing it above all other games. This enthusiasm provided fertile ground for coach Wendy del Rio, who after years working with the men’s blind football team, recognized a significant gap: a lack of opportunities for women to participate. Players repeatedly asked her about forming a female team, prompting Del Rio to found Chilangas FC in 2020.

Overcoming Systemic Challenges

Despite growing interest, the Chilangas FC faces considerable obstacles. The team lacks dedicated training facilities, institutional funding, and paid staff. They must negotiate for pitch access and navigate a city often unfriendly to those with visual impairments. However, del Rio emphasizes that the most significant reward is providing a safe space where women can connect, build community, and simply play the sport they love.

Beyond the Game: Societal Barriers

Efrain Mora Garcia, president of the Mexican Federation of Sports for the Blind and Visually Impaired, points to deeper societal issues hindering progress. He notes that families sometimes discourage daughters from participating in contact sports due to safety concerns, while traditional gender roles place a disproportionate burden of housework on women—averaging 39.7 hours per week compared to men’s 18.6 hours. These cultural expectations contribute to the slower development of women's blind football compared to the men's game.

A Personal Journey of Empowerment

For Paulina Hernandez, a 31-year-old mother diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, joining the Chilangas FC has been transformative. After losing her sight four years ago, she found in blind football a renewed sense of purpose and freedom. “When I’m on the pitch, it's as if I can see,” Hernandez explained. She hopes to inspire her six-year-old son by competing at the Copa America and demonstrating that visual impairment does not limit one’s potential.

The Chilangas FC will travel to Brazil next month for the Women's Blind Football American Championship, hoping to make a strong showing and further raise awareness about blind football in Mexico. Their efforts are aimed at securing more support and opportunities for women with disabilities to participate in sports.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.