Four years ago, my oldest son quit his office job and began working for a professional soccer team—his dream job, he claims—regardless of the sacrifices, pay, or long hours. He was fortunate to land one of fewer than 100 positions in sports intelligence in Mexico, with Gallos Blancos de Querétaro. The team was going through a rough patch, and my boy stood by his career decision stoically.

Fast forward to the summer of 2025. An old friend invited me to a Zoom call where he thought I might bring some value. Okay. Carlos introduced me to the participants, and the meeting began:

“We are looking for a Mexican businessman who can help us secure local investment for a professional soccer team in Mexico.”

“May I ask which team?”

“Querétaro FC… Gallos Blancos.”

What are the odds?

After that “Godincidence,” I disclosed my conflict of interest. It was noted and accepted, and off I went—looking for local investment for the very team where my son had been working for four years, recently acquired by an American investment fund. That, to me, meant local.

Three months later, we were signing documents and adding local investment—including myself—along with knowledge and commitment to the team. Not just from Mexico, but from Querétaro itself (Fernando, Pepe, and Erick jumped in with both feet). I didn’t just find interest; I found long-term commitment and a holistic alignment with a 10-year plan.

Was this story that odd?

Let’s take a step back. Soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico—and arguably the world. The strong relationship across North America has led to the next FIFA World Cup being hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This would be impossible if, our countries weren’t deeply intertwined politically—despite the often chaotic headlines—, economically and culturally: geography, families, corporate business, USMCA, tourism, gastronomy, language, sports, academia, and the list goes on.

We are all expecting an incredible FIFA World Cup across our three countries. Cooperation among diplomacy, business, and society has become an example for those who believe our region is not aligned.

Though Querétaro is not a host city, it is home to an ’86 World Cup stadium (Gallos FC’s home), where more than just sports events take place. Almost four decades ago, Rod Stewart held one of the first major international pop concerts there.. Even then, it was a sign of what collaboration between our countries could achieve. Shoulder to shoulder. And last year, “Rod the Mod” came back—same venue, same vibe, new future.

Now let’s review numbers. Liga MX is the most-watched soccer league in the United States. Let that sink in. Not surprising, right?

Today, at least five professional soccer teams in Mexico have U.S. investment—and that trend is growing. The value here goes far beyond sports; it touches everything, everywhere. We expect the best of each culture, country, and individual to be reflected in the outcome.

The Bare Reality

Canada, Mexico, and the United States are closer than ever. Querétaro sits—geographically and socially—right at the center of it. Companies like Bombardier, Kellogg’s, and Pilgrim’s Pride have operated there for decades. More recently, CloudHQ announced a $4.8 billion investment. Boom!

Mexico today represents not only manufacturing, but specialized design and advanced production. As reflected in the Querétaro FC investment, it is also a sophisticated consumer market—eager to embrace the positive aspects of the North American services model: secure, international, large-scale, fun, technologically driven, and supported by a committed and open state government that has been fostering this environment since the original NAFTA agreement in the 1990s.

Last month, the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, along with Cabrera Capital and Illinois EDC, invited investors, companies, and business leaders—including some Querétaro FC owners—to Chicago. The full-day agenda featured not only a soccer match between Mexico and Belgium at Soldier Field, but also a day of panels highlighting the strength of regional collaboration. Participants included ADM, Xignux, Monroe Capital, Chingona Ventures, GDA Luma Capital, and Querétaro FC, among others.

In the sports panel, speakers included the Head of Marketing for the Chicago Blackhawks, the Head of Marketing for FC Dallas, the COO of the Chicago Bulls, and one of our Querétaro FC partners—who lives in Chicago—from Fonseca Group, Mike added a bit of that spicy Mexican flavor. One speaker at the event carried the title “Chief Quantum Officer”—a glimpse into what happens when you bring together forward-thinking North American business leaders, entrepreneurs, government officials, NGOs, and investors. Chicago is clearly building toward the future.

So no, this story isn’t odd. It’s actually quite common.

The idea of gathering with regional business leaders, connecting them with investors, participating in meetings in Chicago, and enjoying a great soccer match—it’s just part of the rhythm.

As a corollary, during that trip I also visited business partners in Chicago (October Three—great name, worth looking into), we caught up on the cross-border business processes we’ve developed over the years. They also had a great time at the match—and Raymond, a sharp financial expert based in Chicago, showed up wearing a Gallos FC jersey. No surprise there. That’s the shared code among us: positive, candid, forward-looking, pro-business, and deeply professional.

This is how we see the region. This is the North American Way.

P.S. All individuals mentioned are from Mexico—except Rod, of course.