Mexican President Sheinbaum will not go to the opening World Cup match, gives away ticket to native ball magician

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will not attend the opening match of the FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will play against South Africa at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City on June 11. She symbolically gave away her ticket to 21-year-old Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, winner of a match in which women could demonstrate their football skills. Cervantes Cuaquehua sent a video in which she, barefoot and dressed in a traditional black skirt, holds the ball up endlessly.

Three other young football players were chosen for them skills rewarded with tickets to matches played in Mexico – In addition to Canada and the US, one of the three host countries at the upcoming world championship. At the awards ceremony at the National Palace in Mexico City, Sheinbaum called the women “the pride of Mexico.” The first female president in Mexican history took the opportunity to emphasize that “soccer is also a sport for women [is]”.

The fact that the head of government of a host country is not present at the first match of a World Cup is highly unusual. As a rule, dignitaries on the terrace of honor try to make a nice show of organizing a World Cup; like the Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani four years ago or the Russian leader Vladimir Putin eight years ago.

Sheinbaum now knows how to grab the spotlight before the tournament, albeit in her own way: as a woman who supports other women. She says she will watch the opening match on the enormous Zócalo square in Mexico City, just among the people.

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