Sheinbaum calls on FIFA to “reflect” on the excessive commercialization of the World Cup
The Mexican president said that the installation of giant screens in various parts of Mexico helped democratize access to the tournament
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, called this Monday to reflect on the growing commercialization of soccer and maintained that the World Cup must be much more than a business, defending the "social" nature of the sport.
"That's why the expensive tickets thing, all of that has to make you think, even FIFA, because it's good that it's a business. Nobody says you shouldn't do a business. But football also has to be something else," he said during his morning press conference.
In Mexico, ticket prices for World Cup games range between $290 and $4,000.
The Mexican president considered that the high ticket prices and the access difficulties for a part of the population should lead to a reflection within international football and the organizations that regulate it.
"It should not only be business. It should be a meeting space like all sports," he insisted.
Given this, he highlighted that his Government has promoted a “social World Cup” by installing public spaces so that the population can follow the matches for free, especially in the host cities of the competition, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
"The important thing is that football is a space for unity, for encounter, for peace, for equality, for non-discrimination. That must prevail," he said.
As an example of this strategy, Sheinbaum highlighted the installation of screens and coexistence areas for those who cannot pay for streaming services or stadium tickets.
“That people can watch the game or games for free, because that is why different places were placed throughout the country and particularly in the three World Cup venues to be able to watch it for free,” he explained.
The president argued that open broadcasts and public spaces help democratize access to the tournament.
"Those who do not have the possibility of accessing all the games, because they cannot pay, before they were on open television, now they are not. So, those who cannot pay can watch it for free, because that helps a lot," he added.
Mexico is one of three World Cup hosts along with the United States and Canada, hosting matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
The Mexican Government has promoted parallel activities to expand citizen participation and bring the tournament closer to sectors that cannot directly access the stadiums. EFE