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The last time the NFL ventured into Mexico was in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers in Estadio Azteca. Top-level American football is returning to the same venue in Mexico City on Monday night, when the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders will face off in a contest that has been sold out since July.Just dont assume the 11-year gap is related to a lack of interest. In reality, Mexico is the top international hotbed for American football, with the largest NFL fan base of any country outside the United States. There are more fans of the league in Mexico City than in most actual NFL markets.But the sports popularity in Mexico goes well beyond NFL fandom. From youth leagues that are overtaking soccer in popularity in some parts of the country to a new pro league, American football is a major player south of the border. With that in mind, heres a closer look at where the sport stands on every level in Mexico and how fans there consume the game.YouthYouth leagues have sprouted across Mexico, especially in the northern half of the country, where football has firmly planted itself as the second-most popular sport behind soccer. In the northeastern city of Monterrey, the youth leagues total about 2,000 participants, estimated Alex Olivas, the commissioner of CONADEIP, one of the countrys two major college football leagues.Its actually the No. 1 student sport in whole Mexico, Olivas said.And youth football is taken very seriously. Some fields are covered with FieldTurf, the synthetic grass some college and NFL teams use. There are also Pop Warner programs in Mexico.There is a youth league in Monterrey that actually uses a $300,000 replay system, and an overturned call played a key role in one championship game for 8-year-olds. Yes, replay is used for 8-year-olds. The initial call that a player was down was challenged, and the replay review determined the ball had been fumbled and lost.According to Jorge Orobio, commissioner of the Mexican Federation of American Football, the communal nature of the sport has helped it grow. Families invest money into equipment, travel to games and are generally involved in their childs football career.Its like a culture or a lifestyle, said Hugo Lira, coach of the Tech Puebla college team. Thats why it spread all over the country.Lira, who played as a wide receiver in NFL Europe and took part in Carolina Panthers training camp in 2005, added that he thinks itd probably be bigger than it is now if local games were on TV.Orobio said another way the game could get even bigger would be if the NFL got involved at the grassroots level. As a promotion, the NFL makes a great deal, makes a great platform, but no actual development here in Mexico, he said. Promoting football here in Mexico has been great, but not actually developing it.CollegeMajor college football in Mexico is sanctioned by two organizations: ONEFA, which has been around since 1978, and CONADEIP, a private-school offshoot which was founded in 2010.Most college football games average 2,000 to 3,000 fans, with some of the bigger games drawing crowds of 15,000 to 20,000. Olivas says he has seen crowds reach 40,000, depending on whats at stake and the matchup.The Monterrey Institute of Technology might be considered Mexicos version of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Or, perhaps, Alabama is the Monterrey Tech of the United States. The Borregos Salvajes (Wild Rams) have won 21 national championships, including the 2015 CONADEIP title.The quality of college football in Mexico has been compared to the Division III level of the NCAA. Monterrey Tech has taken on teams throughout Texas, including a victory in a 2009 scrimmage against Blinn College -- a team that happened to have Cam Newton?at quarterback.It has been difficult for players from Mexico to break into major college football north of the border. University of Colorado kicker Diego Gonzalez was thought to be the only Mexican native at the FBS level in the U.S. heading into the 2016 season. Gonzalez enrolled at Monterrey Tech as a college freshman before transferring to Colorado, and he became the Buffaloes regular place-kicker in 2015. He had some tough luck this year, suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Colorados third game.ProfessionalPro football is just getting off the ground in Mexico. The Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional, based in Mexico City, concluded its first season in April, and reports said attendance exceeded 5,000 fans per game for the inaugural four-team campaign. The Mayas, Raptors, Eagles and Condors each played six regular-season games, and the Mayas claimed the championship by defeating the Raptors 29-13 in the first Mexico Bowl (Tazon Mexico). The league recently announced plans to expand to six teams and venture beyond Mexico City for the 2017 season, which begins in February.Perhaps the LFA can someday play a role in developing NFL-caliber talent. There have been only two Mexican-born players on 53-man NFL rosters since 2001, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Both were offensive linemen: Rolando Cantu, who played one game for the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 (becoming the first player to play college football in Mexico on his way to the NFL), and Victor Leyva, who played 10 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002. Others have taken part in training camp, been on practice squads and played in NFL Europe.Historically, the Mexico natives who have made the largest impact in the NFL have been kickers, notably Efren Herrera, Rafael Septien, Raul Allegre and members of the Zendejas family: Tony, Max and Luis.FansNFL weekends in Mexico look at lot like NFL weekends in the United States. Fans are consumed by the games from Thursday night through Monday night. Jerseys are worn. Allegiances are upheld. Fantasy rosters are checked. Smack is talked.NFL football here in Mexico is pretty, pretty big, Olivas said. We have a lot of Cowboys fans, Steelers fans. Im a Raiders fan. There used to be a lot bigger Raider fan base here.Bars dedicated to individual team fan bases are strewn throughout Mexico City. Olivas estimated that NFL fans with cable TV can watch as many as nine games a week. According to NFL.com, nine different networks, including ESPN and Fox Sports Latin America, broadcast NFL games in Mexico.For followers to further develop their fandom for their favorite teams, theres an NFL store in a mall in Monterrey, outfitted with jerseys, apparel and other merchandise.Its just a coincidence, but Mexicos Constitution Day national holiday is observed the first Monday in February, often the day after the Super Bowl. That allows revelers to cut loose during the big game without having to worry about work the next day. Its a big-time party, Olivas said of Super Bowl Sunday in Mexico.Large house parties, with plenty of beer and carne asada, are common, and beer companies sponsor gatherings that draw hundreds of fans. Olivas said the game is televised on four different channels, widening the scope of who can watch it. As in the U.S., streets are barren in many cities and towns, especially in the northern half of the country. That stops a lot of what you do on Sundays, he said of the Super Bowl. Your day is all about football.Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Pittsburgh Penguins Store .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Penguins Jerseys 2019 . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Stitched Penguins Jerseys . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move.PARIS -- It took Germany 54 years to finally beat Italy on the big stage. Before their European Championship quarterfinal in Bordeaux on Saturday night, Italy had never lost in their eight previous encounters at the tournament and the World Cup.Here, at a glance, is the history of that amazing rivalry:---ITALY 1, GERMANY 1 -- Germany wins 6-5 on penalties.Euro 2016, quarterfinal, July 2, 2016, in Bordeaux.Jonas Hector scored the winning penalty kick for Germany to finally beat Italy at the ninth time of trying in a major tournament. A cagey game where both sides played 3-5-2 formations ended 1-1 after extra time.---ITALY 2, GERMANY 1Euro 2012, semifinal; June 28, 2012, in Warsaw.Mario Balotellis peak for Italy, with two first-half goals that rendered irrelevant Mesut Ozils injury-time penalty. But the effort of breaking Germanys world-record run of victories in 15 consecutive competitive games exhausted Italy for what, just three days later, became the most one-sided final in European Championship history, with Spain scoring four against Italy without reply. Germany coach Joachim Loew says he learned important lessons from this defeat to Cesare Prandellis Italy side.---ITALY 2, GERMANY 02006 World Cup, semifinal; July 4, 2006, in Dortmund.In the last minute of extra time, after 119 minutes of goal-less football, Fabio Grosso took a brilliant pass from Andrea Pirlo in the box and curled a left-footed shot beyond the leaping reach of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. Alessandro Del Piero clinched the 2-0 win soon afterward with a counterattacking goal as the Germans pressed frantically to equalize. Marcello Lippis team then beat France in a penalty shoot-out in the final best remembered for the expulsion of Zinedine Zidane for his head-butt against Marco Materazzi.---ITALY 0, GERMANY 0Euro 1996, group stage; June 19, 1996, at Old Trafford, Manchester.A draw that felt like a victory for Germany. Gianfranco Zolas weakly taken penalty kick in the seventh minute was easily saved by goalkeeper Andreas Koepke. Germany also survived the expulsion of Thomas Strunz in the 59th minute. Germany advanced from the group and went on to win the tournament while Italy went home.---ITALY 1, WEST GERMANY 1Euro 1988, group stage; June 10, 1988, in Duesseldorf.In the opening match of the European Championship in the west of what was then still a Cold Warr-divided Germany, Roberto Mancinis first international goal gave Italy the lead after 52 minutes.dddddddddddd West Germany equalized three minutes later when Andreas Brehme scored with a deflected shot. Both teams subsequently lost in the semifinals.---ITALY 3, WEST GERMANY 11982 World Cup, final; July 11, 1982, in Madrid.At the last World Cup with an all-leather ball, Italy was crowned champion for a third time with Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli and substitute Alessandro Altobelli each scoring second-half goals at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. Paul Breitners consolation goal in the 83rd minute for West Germany was too little, too late. Antonio Cabrini also missed a penalty for Italy in the first half.---ITALY 0, WEST GERMANY 01978 World Cup, second round; June 14, 1978, in Buenos Aires.An unremarkable game to open the second group stage. The poorest German team of that era was famously beaten by Austria one week later.---ITALY 4, WEST GERMANY 31970 World Cup, semifinal; June 17, 1970, in Mexico City.In front of 102,500 people at the new Azteca Stadium, Italy triumphed in an all-time classic match with an incredible five goals in extra time. Roberto Boninsegna gave Italy the lead with a half-volleyed goal after just eight minutes. Italy defended furiously, with Roberto Rosato clearing Siegfried Helds volley off the line and West Germanys Franz Beckenbauer famously dislocating his shoulder in a second-half Italian foul. Defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger equalized in injury time.In extra time, with Beckenbauer playing with his arm in a sling, West Germany scored first through Gerd Mueller. Four minutes later, Tarcisio Burgnich leveled for Italy. Six minutes after that, Gigi Riva gave Italy a 3-2 lead. Then, another six minutes later, Mueller equalized at 3-3.But German celebrations were quenched one minute later when Gianni Rivera scored the winner for Italy.---ITALY 0, WEST GERMANY 01962 World Cup, group match; May 31, 1962, in Santiago, Chile.The first match in the series is perhaps most remarkable for the person who was in goal and wearing the captains armband for Italy that day: Lorenzo Buffon. He was a cousin to the grandfather of Italys current `keeper and captain, Gianluigi Buffon. ' ' '