Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly explained her absence from the World Cup opening match at the Azteca Stadium, stating that the high cost of tickets made attending unaffordable for most Mexicans. During a daily news conference, Ms Sheinbaum highlighted the significant financial barrier, noting that the average ticket price of approximately $3,000 (around £2,360) is equivalent to what many Mexicans earn in a month.
Ms Sheinbaum confirmed that she instead allocated her VIP ticket to a young female football enthusiast, Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua. Ms Cervantes, an Indigenous Nahua athlete from Veracruz, secured the prestigious seat after winning a national contest organised by the Mexican government. The competition saw her beat 1,000 other finalists across Mexico, submitting a viral video showcasing her football juggling skills while wearing traditional dress.
The President articulated her decision, saying, "Stadium tickets are very expensive. As president it's better that I give my place to someone who couldn't have gone, who loves football, especially a young woman, and I can celebrate it with the people for free." This move underscores a broader point of contention surrounding the tournament's ticket pricing, which has drawn criticism for its inaccessibility to the general public in the host nation.
Ms Cervantes' winning entry featured her recounting a childhood experience where a poetry contest win led to a trip to Spain to watch football, sparking her passion for the sport. She explained how her father trained her for years, enabling her to juggle a ball thousands of times. The contest itself was launched by Ms Sheinbaum in March, framed as an initiative to empower young women in sport and challenge historical barriers within the industry.
Rather than attending the stadium, President Sheinbaum chose to watch Mexico's opening match against South Africa at one of 18 public viewing areas established by the Mexico City government across the capital. She joined hundreds of other fans, reinforcing her message of solidarity with ordinary citizens who cannot afford the steep ticket prices.