Isabel Migoya Iriso is the Managing Editor of the Great Game Lab and Senior Coordinator of Convergence Lab, a project that seeks to connect the university with Mexican audiences and partners to explore topics of mutual interest through a series of public events and innovative ideas journalism. Isabel is also the managing editor of the U.S.-Mexico Binational Kaleidoscope Short Film Contest and Festival.
A native of Mexico City, Isabel has dedicated her professional career to strengthening ties between the United States and Mexico. Her path began working at the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was responsible for implementing and monitoring social programs aimed at serving the Mexican migrant community in the Valley of the Sun and northern Arizona. Isabel has also worked as Project Assistant at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office in Mexico and as the Membership and Events Coordinator for the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI). In 2019, she moved to Washington D.C. to study a master’s degree in international relations with a concentration in American Foreign Policy and Latin American Studies from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. After graduation, she worked as Stakeholder Manager at the U.S.-Mexico Foundation before joining ASU in 2022.
Throughout her life, Isabel was always a bit of a Messi skeptic. Until fate dropped her in Buenos Aires on December 18, 2022. That day, as Messi led Argentina to victory, she had an epiphany and converted on the spot.
Favorite sports memory?
June 17, 2018. Mexico beat the defending champions, Germany, in the Group Stage during the Men’s World Cup in Russia. That day nothing seemed impossible for us. A close second would be the moment of silence during lap 19 of the 2017 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, held in tribute to the victims and rescuers of the two devastating earthquakes that have hit Mexico City on September 19. I get goosebumps remembering thousands of people with their fists raised, standing in complete silence, broken only by the roar of the cars racing.
Your global sports Mount Rushmore?
Rafael Márquez, Alex Morgan, Amalia Pérez, Sergio “Checo” Pérez
Which world leader would you put in goal?
King Felipe VI of Spain, his height is ideal
Which athlete would you want to be world leader?
Simone Biles.
Best rivalry?
Argentina vs Mexico in every Men’s World Cup, (although Argentineans may not know this rivalry exists).
A sign that the world of sport is shrinking?
The fact that American football superstars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are leading a group investing in the Alpine F1 team and that Taylor Swift can show up at a Grand Prix anywhere in the world at any time.
Where would the Great Game Lab find the quintessence of global sport?
On Netflix, there are so many documentaries and docuseries released in recent years about all kinds of sports, that are creating new fans all around the world.
Question you'd most want to ask other fellows?
If you could travel back in time to witness a historic moment in sports, what would it be?