World Cup opening showed a different reality than social media, says Sheinbaum; criticizes bot usage

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup presented the world with an image of a happy, united, and peaceful Mexico. She contrasted this reality with the negative perceptions of chaos and ungovernability that she claims some entities attempted to project about the country.

Addressing questions about the presence of political and business figures at the inaugural match and criticisms circulating on social media, Sheinbaum dismissed claims of political persecution. She argued that the actual experience of the World Cup's opening day disproved negative forecasts. "There is no political persecution of anyone. They wanted to show that Mexico was in chaos, that the inauguration could not take place, that there is no governance, that there is violence. But no. The image to the world of Mexico is joy, happiness," she stated.

Sheinbaum highlighted that millions of viewers witnessed a celebration infused with Mexican culture, a festive atmosphere, and support for the national team, which secured a victory in its opening match. The President took the opportunity to critique the influence of social media on public perception, suggesting that online sentiment often diverges from the feelings of the majority of citizens.

In this context, she addressed the circulation of videos showing businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego arriving at the stadium. Without directly naming him, Sheinbaum criticized public figures who she believes confuse digital activity with genuine popular support. "They pay millions and millions of pesos for there to be robots on social media and they think that is the popularity they have. But it is not like that," she declared. She concluded by stressing the importance of staying close to the people, stating, "When you govern for the people, when the people command, you do not make mistakes."