A few hours before the long-awaited debut of the Mexico team in the 2026 World Cup, TUDN journalist Julio Ibáñez shared an emotional video that quickly became a trend on social networks. The communicator sent a message full of feelings before the confrontation between Mexico and South Africa, remembering the complicated experience he lived in African territory.

The reporter made a direct call to the national team to seek victory in a match that, for him, has a much deeper meaning than sports.

“The truth is, I come to tell you to do it for me, because you humiliated me and because only this thorn that hurt my heart, that put three months of my life on hold, will be healed with what moves me the most,” declared Ibáñez.

The difficult experience of Julio Ibáñez in South Africa

The journalist's statements are related to the legal process he faced during his stay in South Africa, where he was detained on accusations of terrorism, espionage, illegal stay in the country and organized crime.

For that reason, the match between the Mexican National Team and the African team represents for him a kind of emotional revenge after one of the most complicated episodes of his professional career.

"They humiliated us, they discriminated against us for being Mexican. From day one they were following us; they were waiting for any pretext, such as the drone, to accuse us at the time of terrorism, espionage, of being illegal in their country and of organized crime," the reporter mentioned.

The imprisonment that marked the TUDN journalist

According to his story, Julio Ibáñez remained deprived of liberty for three months in South African territory before regaining his freedom.

After resolving his legal situation, the journalist returned to Mexico with the aim of reuniting with his family and returning to his professional activities, especially in view of covering the 2026 World Cup, one of the most important sporting events on the planet.

His story generated a great impact among fans and media colleagues, who closely followed his case during the months he remained outside the country.

Julio Ibáñez's final message to the Mexican National Team

In the same video, the communicator recalled the outcome of the process he faced in South Africa and sent a message of support to the players led by the Mexican National Team before the World Cup commitment.

“The nightmare is over, we pleaded guilty to flying a drone without permission, which was equivalent to a traffic ticket.

I did know the South African prison, I knew what a country full of racism experienced, but I was also a victim of being Mexican. Gentlemen, have a lot of success and have a blast,” he concluded in his video.

Mexico vs South Africa, a match with emotional charge

Beyond the sporting importance that the Mexican National Team's debut in the 2026 World Cup represents, the match against South Africa will have a special burden for Julio Ibáñez, who hopes that a victory for the national team will help close one of the most difficult chapters of his life.

While the ball is about to roll, the journalist's message has already generated thousands of reactions on social networks, becoming one of the most talked about stories in the run-up to the World Cup match.