Sheinbaum Awards World Cup Opener Ticket to Young Athlete

On Tuesday, Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, presented a ticket to the 2026 World Cup opener to Yolett Cervant Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old indigenous woman from Veracruz. Cervant earned this ticket by showcasing her soccer skills in a government-sponsored contest aimed at recognizing young athletes.

The ticket, numbered 00001, grants access to Mexico's match against South Africa at the famous Azteca Stadium on June 11. During the award ceremony, Sheinbaum expressed pride in Cervant's achievement and emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for young Mexican soccer players.

In addition to Cervant, Sheinbaum awarded tickets to three other young amateur soccer players from Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, aged between 16 and 23. Cervant expressed her gratitude for the recognition and the opportunity to represent her country.

Sheinbaum stated that she would watch the game at Mexico City's Zocalo, where a large fan fest will be hosted, despite earlier indicating she would not attend the match.