The Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico (ZMVM) is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. This chapter explores the challenges of urban governance in a complex federalist system with fragmented institutional arrangements. The chapter analyzes how a “metropolitan discourse” has struggled to emerge in the context of political and administrative fragmentation. The ZMVM, while strategically important, has complex, fragmented, and often disordered governance arrangements. In addition, the chapter shows that a lack of coherent policies and effective governance hinders the region’s economy. The study also highlights how a dysfunctional federalist system and weak institutional capacities lead to a lack of incentives for interjurisdictional cooperation. Key issues, such as public transportation and mobility, are explored as examples to illustrate these dysfunctions. The study also examines attempts at collaboration through the creation of entities like the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe) and the Metropolitan Development Council (CDM). The case exemplifies how political considerations and a dysfunctional federalist system have historically prioritized local benefits over collaborative regional solutions. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes that coordination often focuses on budgetary resources rather than comprehensive metropolitan strategies.