Rewriting the Playbook: How FMF President Mikel Arriola Is Reinventing Football in Mexico

World Cup madness has taken over the world. And while you’re screaming “Allez les Bleus!”, “Vamos Vamos Argentina!”, “I Believe That We Will Win!”, “It’s coming home!”, “Vamos Nippon!”, “¡Cielito Lindo”, "Olé, Olé, Olé!" or any other team chant at the World Cup, there are thousands of people who have been planning and sweating the details so that you can watch the games and cheer your team to victory.

Today, we’ll speak with someone who is leading that team in Mexico, as Marla and Tomas sit down with the Commissioner and President of Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Mikel Arriola. Mikel shares how he regrouped after a setback running for political office to step into the top roles at FMF and Liga MX. He digs into how he aligned his team to execute an audacious World Cup strategy across three host cities in Mexico, guiding the organization through the complexity, politics, and stakeholder demands of both FMF and FIFA. And he discusses how technology and AI are redefining sports.

We’ll also hear from Navio Kwok, a leadership specialist at Russell Reynolds Associates, who will share his perspective on whether the lessons learned in professional sport can help explain why so many athletes go on to become successful leaders.

Mikel Arriola
Commissioner and President, Mexican Football Federation

A Mexican national, born in Mexico City, he holds a law degree from Universidad Anáhuac. He also holds two master's degrees: one in Public Policy and Public Administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and another in Law from the University of Chicago.

Alongside his academic training, he pursued a distinguished athletic career as a national jai alai player from 1991 to 2015, during which he became a multiple-time national champion and won silver and bronze medals at the U-22 Junior World Championships of 1991 and 1995, as well as silver medals at the Open World Championships of 1994, 1998, 2010, and 2013.

He has spent much of his professional career in public service within the Mexican Federal Government, holding senior positions at the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público), and serving as head of the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) and as Director General of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).

Since December 2021, he has applied his extensive public-sector experience to the football industry, upon assuming the role of Executive President of Liga MX. Under his leadership, the League has implemented a wide range of sporting, commercial, and corporate-governance initiatives that have significantly strengthened the institution.

On the sporting front, Liga MX raised effective playing time to 58:50 minutes per match, exceeding the initial target by 150% and positioning the League as a global benchmark. A new Youth Rule was also introduced to promote the development of young players, resulting in a cumulative 54,087 minutes played, 44 debuts, and the participation of 155 young players.

On the financial front, during his administration (2021–2024) Liga MX's revenues grew by 70% and its total enterprise value increased by 30%, rising from US$2.115 billion to US$2.747 billion. This growth enabled the launch of the "Es por la Afición" ("It's for the Fans") program, which channels resources to clubs for infrastructure investment and improvements to the in-stadium fan experience.

On the international front, he spearheaded the launch of the first Liga MX vs. MLS All-Star Game, with its fourth edition held in 2025. He also drove the creation of the Leagues Cup, a CONCACAF-sanctioned tournament featuring clubs from Liga MX and MLS. Now in its fourth edition, the tournament will continue to evolve to deliver a more dynamic and compelling competition.

On December 13, 2024, he was appointed Executive President of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF). In March 2025, he was elected to the CONCACAF Council as the representative for North America, strengthening Mexico's voice in regional decision-making. In December 2025, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the FIFA Men's Club Competitions Committee for the 2025–2029 cycle.