Mexico's President Sheinbaum skips World Cup opener, gives ticket to Indigenous ball juggler

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is opting out of attending the opening match of the FIFA World Cup, a highly unusual move for a host nation's leader. Instead of occupying a seat in the stadium, she symbolically gifted her ticket to Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old Indigenous woman who won a competition showcasing female football skills.

Cervantes Cuaquehua impressed with a video of her keeping the ball airborne while wearing a traditional black skirt. Sheinbaum also awarded tickets to three other young female footballers for their skills. At the award ceremony, Sheinbaum called the women "the pride of Mexico" and emphasized that "football is also a sport for women," highlighting her commitment to supporting female athletes.

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the pride of Mexico

While leaders like Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Russia's Vladimir Putin have previously used World Cup openings to gain prestige, Sheinbaum is choosing a different path. She aims to draw attention to herself by supporting women in sports. She plans to watch the opening match, which Mexico plays against South Africa in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on June 11, alongside ordinary citizens in the Zócalo square.

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football is also a sport for women