Pachuca isn't just another city on the Mexican map. It’s the "Cradle of Mexican Soccer." If you walk through the streets of Hidalgo, you feel it. But for a long time, that history was a boys' club. Then 2017 happened. The creation of Liga MX Femenil changed everything, and Club de Fútbol Pachuca Femenil didn't just show up to participate; they showed up to set the blueprint. Honestly, if you look at how women's soccer has exploded in Mexico, you have to start with Las Tuzas. They’ve always been a bit different. While other teams were figuring out how to market a women’s side, Pachuca was busy building a legitimate powerhouse that combined veteran grit with some of the most exciting young talent in the Western Hemisphere.
It’s actually kinda wild when you think about it.
They won the very first tournament—the Copa MX Femenil in 2017—smashing Tijuana 9-1 in the final. That wasn't a fluke. It was a statement. Since then, the journey has been a rollercoaster of high-profile signings, heartbreaking finals, and a relentless commitment to playing attractive, attacking football. They aren't the team that sits back. They’re the team that makes you sweat for 90 minutes.
The Charlyn Corral Factor and the Shift in Gravity
For a while, the narrative around Club de Fútbol Pachuca Femenil was that they were the "almost" team. They reached finals but couldn't quite grasp the trophy in the Liguilla era. But then they pulled off what most people thought was impossible at the time: they brought Charlyn Corral back to Mexico.
You have to understand the gravity of that move. Corral wasn't just some player; she was a Pichichi winner in Spain. Her arrival in 2021 signaled that Pachuca wasn't just looking to develop players—they wanted to dominate. And boy, did she deliver. Watching her and Jennifer Hermoso—yes, that Jenni Hermoso, a World Cup winner—share a pitch in the blue and white hoops was surreal. It turned the Estadio Hidalgo into a destination for global soccer fans.
Hermoso’s stint at Pachuca was massive. It wasn't just about the goals, though there were plenty. It was about the professional standards. When a player of her caliber chooses Pachuca over big European offers or the glamour of the NWSL, it tells you everything you need to know about the club’s infrastructure. They treat their players like pros. Period. That’s why you see the chemistry on the field; it’s born from a culture that actually values the women’s game instead of treating it as a PR obligation.
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The Youth Pipeline: More Than Just Big Names
Look, big signings are great for headlines. They sell jerseys. They get people into the stands. But if you talk to the die-hard Tuzos fans, they’ll tell you the real magic is in the academy. Pachuca’s "Universidad del Fútbol" is legendary for a reason.
Alice Soto is the perfect example.
She debuted at 13. Thirteen!
In most leagues, that would be a gimmick. At Pachuca, it was because she was legitimately good enough to hang with grown women. Soto represents the future of the Mexican National Team, and she’s a direct product of the Pachuca system. The club doesn't just scout; they mold. They teach a specific style—quick transitions, high pressing, and technical bravery.
Tactical Identity: Why Las Tuzas Are Never Boring
If you’ve ever watched a Club de Fútbol Pachuca Femenil match on a rainy Monday night in Hidalgo, you know they don't do "boring." Under various managers, including the likes of Juan Carlos Cacho and later Toño Spinelli, the identity remained largely the same: attack, attack, and then attack some more.
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They usually favor a high-octane 4-3-3 or a variation of a 4-2-3-1 that allows their creative players room to breathe. The fullbacks are often so high up the pitch they’re basically wingers. This leads to some high-scoring affairs, like their 10-2 demolition of Toluca back in 2023. It’s risky. It leaves gaps. But man, is it fun to watch.
The downside? Defense has occasionally been their Achilles' heel. In big games against the "Northern Giants"—Tigres and Monterrey—Pachuca has sometimes struggled to maintain that defensive discipline when the pressure mounts. They’ll outscore you 4-3, but they might also lose 3-2 because they refused to stop flying forward. That’s the Pachuca Way. You take the brilliance with the chaos.
The "Almost" Curse and the Search for the Star
It’s the elephant in the room. Pachuca has been to multiple finals (Clausura 2017, Clausura 2022, Clausura 2023) and hasn't quite managed to lift the league trophy yet.
Some critics say they lack the "killer instinct" of Tigres UANL. Others argue that the roster turnover has been too high. Honestly, it’s probably a bit of both. Transitioning from the Hermoso era into the next phase requires a tactical recalibration. But you can't call them failures. They are consistently in the top four or five teams in a league that is becoming increasingly competitive and expensive.
The gap between the top spenders and the rest of the league is widening, but Pachuca stays relevant because they spend smart, not just big. They find players like Chinwendu Ihezuo, who brings a different physical dimension to the front line, complementing the technical wizardry of the midfielders.
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Impact Beyond the Pitch
You can't talk about Club de Fútbol Pachuca Femenil without mentioning the fans. The "Pachuca Family" is real. Unlike some clubs that play their women's games in secondary training facilities, Pachuca frequently opens the Estadio Hidalgo.
They’ve set attendance records that made the rest of the world take notice. When they played the 2023 final, the atmosphere was electric. It wasn't just "support for women's sports"—it was soccer fever, pure and simple. The club has successfully created a brand that appeals to families in the Hidalgo region, making the women's team just as much a part of the local identity as the men's side.
This matters because visibility drives revenue. Revenue drives better facilities. Better facilities lead to better players. It’s a cycle Pachuca mastered early.
Real Talk: The Challenges Ahead
It’s not all sunshine and golazos. The league is changing. With the arrival of more international stars across all teams, the competition is fierce. Pachuca has to figure out how to shore up a defense that can sometimes be a bit "leaky" against counter-attacking sides.
They also face the challenge of keeping their young stars. When you develop talent like Alice Soto, the big clubs in Europe start calling. Managing that transition—knowing when to sell and when to hold—is going to define the next five years for the club.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking to follow or understand this team better, don't just look at the box scores. Here is how to actually track the progress of Las Tuzas:
- Watch the Wing Play: Pay attention to how the fullbacks overlap. If Pachuca’s defenders are touching the ball in the final third, they are likely winning. If they are pinned back, they are in trouble.
- Monitor the "Minutos de Menores": Liga MX Femenil has rules about playing young players. Pachuca usually clears this requirement easily. Watch who they rotate in during the 60th to 70th minute—that’s usually your first look at the next big Mexican star.
- The Home Fortress: Keep an eye on their home record at the Estadio Hidalgo. They rely heavily on the altitude and the pitch size to tire out opponents. A loss at home is usually a sign of a deeper tactical slump.
- Follow the Individual Matchups: When they play Tigres or América, watch how Charlyn Corral is marked. Most teams will double-team her, which opens up space for the secondary strikers. The game is won or lost based on how the "other" attackers exploit that space.
Club de Fútbol Pachuca Femenil remains the most fascinating project in Mexican soccer. They are a blend of romanticism—playing the "right way"—and cold, hard ambition. They might not have the trophy cabinet of some of their rivals yet, but they have the respect of anyone who actually knows the game. They are the heartbeat of the league, and sooner or later, that persistence is going to result in a parade through the streets of Pachuca. It’s not a matter of if, but when.