2018 FIFA World Cup: Hybrid sport of FootGolf on rise in Mexico

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02:59

With football fever at its usual four-year high during the World Cup, other sports are hoping the interest in the beautiful game carries over to their own disciplines. That includes the hybrid activity of FootGolf, which was already on the rise in Mexico. And as Alasdair Baverstock reports, organizers believe El Tri's success in Russia can benefit their federation.

This is FootGolf, a combination of football and golf. Invented a decade ago in the Netherlands, it's a sport which has captured imaginations on the other side of the world, in Mexico. Juan Soto has represented his country in two FootGolf World Cups.

JUAN SOTO MEXICO FOOTGOLFER "We're a footballing nation, and we love to kick a ball around, so for those who like to get out and about. It's far less expensive than actual golf, in which you have to invest a lot of money to play. All you need is a ball, and most of us have one in the house."

Mexico is a member of the Federation for International FootGolf, an organization with 37 member countries from around the globe.

ALASDAIR BAVERSTOCK MEXICO CITY "While the holes are a lot shorter, FootGolf works under the same rules that govern professional golf. Each kick counts as a stroke, with a player's aim being to put his ball into the 53-centimeter-diameter cup in as few strokes as possible."

Jose Miguel Bolanos is another player.

JOSE MIGUEL BOLANOS MEXICO FOOTGOLFER "I'm a football player, as well as a golfer, and the mixing of the two sports is very attractive to me. It requires the physicality and skill of football, but you must think like a golfer due to wind conditions, terrain, ball positioning, and power. This is a good mixture."

Mexico has nine different tournaments throughout the year, which draw crowds of thousands, according to Fernando Lame, the director of Mexico FootGolf Federation.

But with the 2018 World Cup underway in Russia, Fernando says his organization is seeking to capitalize.

FERNANDO LAME MEXICO FOOTGOLF FEDERATION DIRECTOR "This is an important opportunity to spread the word about our sport, to get people down to the golf courses, and playing our sport. Passion for football is never greater than during a World Cup, and we want to offer people an enjoyable alternative."

As the Mexican football team's heroics continue in Russia, these footgolfers are cheering them on from the fairways, hoping the country's passion for the beautiful game will translate into greater participation on the course. Alasdair Baverstock, CGTN, Mexico City.