‘Tickets are very expensive’: Mexican president Sheinbaum explains why she did not attend World Cup opener

<ul><li><p>President gave ticket to a young female soccer fan</p></li><li><p>‘I gave it to someone who couldn’t go, who loves football’</p></li></ul><p>The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, explained on Friday why she was absent from the Azteca Stadium during <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/11/mexico-south-africa-world-cup-2026-group-a-match-report">Mexico’s opening match with South Africa</a>, saying that tickets to the match were unaffordable for most Mexicans and that she had given her ticket to a young female soccer fan.</p><p>“Stadium tickets are very expensive,” Sheinbaum said during her daily morning news conference. “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.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/12/tickets-are-very-expensive-mexican-president-sheinbaum-explains-why-she-did-not-attend-world-cup-opener">Continue reading...</a>