Trending Now - Ancient Mexican Ballgame Endures Through Centuries of Change

WHO:

ABC News - The Osuna family, including María Herrera, 53, and her grandchildren, are involved in teaching and playing ulama.

ABC News - Emilie Carreón is a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and director of a project studying ulama.

ABC News - Carlos Navarrete is a Guatemalan archaeologist and anthropologist.

ABC News - Manuel Aguilar Moreno is a professor of art history at California State University.

ABC News - Ángel Ortega is a 21-year-old ulama player from Mexico City.

ABC News - Ilse Sil is a player and member of the UNAM project led by Carreón.

WHAT:

ABC News - The ancient ballgame known as ulama is being revived in Mexico.

ABC News - The rubber ball used in ulama weighs 3.2 kilograms (approximately 7 pounds).

ABC News - Approximately 1,000 players currently participate in ulama, mainly in Mexico and Guatemala.

ABC News - The game is played by hitting the ball with the hip, forearm, or a mallet.

ABC News - The Osuna family participates in tournaments or exhibitions of hip ulama.

WHERE:

ABC News - The game is played on a dirt field in Los Llanitos, Sinaloa, Mexico, which is 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) northwest of Mexico City.

ABC News - The game has historical roots in various regions, with nearly 2,000 ball courts found from Nicaragua to Arizona.

WHEN:

ABC News - Mexico is preparing to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

ABC News - The opening day of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics featured an exhibition of ulama.

WHY:

ABC News - The revival of ulama is fueled by tourism and the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

ABC News - Players express concern that projecting an “exotic” image undermines the tradition central to their identity.

ABC News - The Catholic Church historically viewed ulama as a form of resistance to Christianity.

HOW:

ABC News - The Osuna family teaches ulama to children, guiding them through the complicated rules and scoring system.

ABC News - Authorities and corporations are launching exhibitions in Mexico City and Guadalajara to promote ulama.

ABC News - The game has been featured in ad campaigns highlighting Mexican heritage.

(UPDATED May 10, 2026 05:58 UTC)

The ancient ballgame known as ulama is experiencing a revival in Mexico, with around 1,000 players currently participating, primarily in Mexico and Guatemala. The Osuna family, including María Herrera and her grandchildren, are actively involved in teaching the game, while researchers like Emilie Carreón from the National Autonomous University of Mexico lead projects to promote its cultural significance. As Mexico prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, authorities and corporations are launching exhibitions in major cities to showcase ulama and its rich heritage.