Mexico hosts the junior women’s world championships for a record fifth time, previously welcoming the event in 1981, 2009, 2017 and 2019. The last time the North American hosted the tournament in 2019, it was also in Aguascalientes and Leon, the same cities where the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship is taking place from August 17 through 26.
Both cities are situated in central Mexico, in northwest direction from the capital Mexico City, some 130 km from each other.
Leon de Los Aldama, as the city is officially named, is the biggest populous city in the state of Guanajuato and the fourth most populous municipality in the country with a population of over 1.7 million people. Over 2.1 million people live in the metropolitan area of Leon.
León has a strong leather industry, offering shoes, boots, belts, jackets, and other leather accessories to national and international markets. The leather industry earned its inhabitants the nickname of "green belly" because of the green tainting in the workers' bodies resulting from treating leather.
Its first-class services and hotel industry make it an important commercial centre in Mexico with numerous options for entertainment, gastronomy, leisure activities, arts, and recreation. It is also considered one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Mexico.
Aguascalientes is the capital and the most populous city of the state of Aguascalientes, with a population of about a million inhabitants (over 1.2 million in the larger metropolitan area. The city stands on a valley of steppe climate at 1,880 m above sea level.
Originally the territory of the nomadic Chichimeca peoples, the city was founded in 1575 by Spanish families and was named after the many thermal springs around. Politically, it was part of the kingdom of Nueva Galicia. In 1857, Aguascalientes become capital of a new state. The city played an important role during the Mexican Revolution.
Formed on a tradition of farming, mining, railroad and textile industries, contemporary Aguascalientes has attracted foreign investment of automobile and electronics companies due to its peaceful business climate, strategic location and existing infrastructure. The city is also known for the San Marcos Fair, the largest fair celebrated in Mexico and one of the largest in North America.
