Mexico was represented at the OTI Festival 1998 with the song "", written by Gerardo Flores, and performed by Fernando Ibarra. The Mexican participating broadcaster, Televisa, selected its entry through a national televised competition with several phases. The song, qualified from the semi-final, was not among the top-three places revealed in the final.
Televisa held a national competition with three televised qualifying rounds and a final to select its entry for the 27th edition of the OTI Festival. More than three thousand songs were received from 697 songwriters, of which 27 were selected for the televised National OTI Festival. In addition to the general competition, awards were given for Best Performer, and Best Musical Arrangement.
The selection was held within the show presented by Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo and broadcast on . The musical director was Nando Hernández, who conducted the orchestra when required. The shows were also aired on the radio on Grupo ACIR, Radiópolis, Grupo Radio Centro, Grupo Radio Mil, Radio Fórmula, Multivisión, Radio Chapultepec, Radio Red, and Radio Raza.
The three qualifying rounds were held on Thursdays 30 July, and 6 and 13 August 1998. Each round featured nine entries, of which the two highest-scoring advanced to the final. The two remaining places in the final were taken by the two highest-scoring songs among those not qualified in the three rounds.
The same nine-member jury scored all entries in all shows, considering the lyrics, music, originality, and national and international marketing potential. The nine jurors were: Iridián (who represented Mexico in 1997), Adriana Riveramelo, Filemón Arcos Suárez, JoaquÃÂn DÃÂaz, Eduardo Quijano, Raúl RÃÂos Olvera, Gino Gallegos, , and Roberto Cantoral as chairperson.
The first qualifying round featured a guest performance by comedian . Each round ended with the reprise of the two qualified songs.
The eight-song final was held on Thursday 20 August 1998. The winner was "", written by Gerardo Flores, and performed by Fernando Ibarra; with "", written by Fernando Riba and and performed by Sergio Arzate, placing third. The top three entries received a medal and a diploma. The first prize was endowed with a monetary amount of Mex$150,000, the second prize of Mex$70,000, and the third prize of Mex$30,000. The winner also received a contract to produce the theme song for a Televisa telenovela. Luigi Lazareno receivied the Best Musical Arrangement for "" voted by the orchestra musicians.
On 13âÂÂ14 November 1998, the OTI Festival was held at the in San José, hosted by (Repretel), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Fernando Ibarra performed "" in the semi-final, with Alejandro Hernández conducting the event's orchestra, and qualifying for the final. At the end, only the top three places were announced, and the Mexican entry was not one of them, remaining with the title of finalist.