MEXICO CITY — Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum gave away her ticket to the 2026 World Cup opening match on June 11, 2026, to an Indigenous amateur soccer player. The match will feature Mexico against South Africa at Azteca Stadium.

Sheinbaum donated ticket No. 00001 to Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old Indigenous woman from Veracruz, who was selected by a jury after winning a contest for her ball-handling skills. At a press conference to present the ticket, Sheinbaum said, "They are the pride of Mexico. They will not represent the president, or the head of government, they will represent Mexico."

Cervantes Cuaquehua responded, "Thank you so much for considering us." Sheinbaum also gave away tickets to other matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey to three additional amateur athletes aged 16, 22, and 23. Those athletes were also chosen by a jury as part of a government-organized contest.

In March 2026, Sheinbaum ruled out attending the opening game, stating she wanted to give prominence to young Mexican female soccer players. "I think a young woman who plays soccer is a great representative of our country. Very few people will be able to attend the opening," Sheinbaum said at the time. Instead of attending the match, she said she will watch the game at the Zócalo, the capital’s main square, where a Fan Fest will be set up.

Sheinbaum is the first female president in Mexico’s 200-year history. Her decision to forgo the opening match generated mixed reactions in Mexico, with some praising the gesture and others criticizing it as a missed opportunity to promote the country on a global stage.

The World Cup opening match ticket giveaway was part of a broader government initiative to highlight amateur athletes from diverse backgrounds. Cervantes Cuaquehua’s selection followed a nationwide contest organized by Mexico’s Ministry of Sports, which evaluated participants based on demonstrated soccer skills and community involvement.