Sheinbaum launches a contest to choose the young woman who will represent Mexico at the opening of the World Cup

Mexico City (EFE).- Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced this Thursday a contest aimed at young soccer players to choose who will represent her at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, while she will follow the event from the Zócalo of Mexico City.

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During her conference, the president explained that the contest will be called 'Represent Mexico at the World Cup Opening' and that the prize will be a ticket to attend the opening ceremony. "The contest is called 'Represent Mexico at the World Cup opening.' With what ticket? With the president's ticket. It's this ticket. 00001. I will be here in the Zócalo with the people watching the opening. While a young woman will represent me at the opening," she affirmed.

The Mexican president explained that the decision seeks to give prominence to the young soccer players of the country. "I think a young woman who plays soccer is a great representative of our country. Very few people will be able to go to the inauguration. Very few people. So, I'm going to watch it here with the people. And a young woman is going to represent us, is going to represent me and the people of Mexico at the inauguration," he assured.

How is Mexico's representative chosen for the World Cup opening ceremony?

The contest will be aimed at women between 16 and 25 years old, who must send a video and demonstrate their skill by doing pull-ups with the ball for one minute.

The opening match of the World Cup will be on June 11th and will pit the Mexico and South Africa national teams against each other in the legendary Azteca Stadium in the Mexican capital.

The jury will be made up of prominent figures from soccer and sports journalism in Mexico. Among them is the Mexican referee Katia Itzel García, who in 2024 became the first woman in two decades to referee a men's Liga MX match as the central referee and has been recognized among the best referees in the world. Also participating will be Mexican soccer player Charlyn Corral, winner of the 2024 National Sports Award and all-time top scorer in the Liga MX Femenil, and it is completed by sports journalist Gabriela Fernández, a pioneer in the narration of soccer matches on national television.

Why choose a young woman?

Sheinbaum highlighted that the initiative also seeks to promote equality in sports and give visibility to women's soccer.

"Remember that football for many years was thought to be for men," said the president, who added that, although the situation has changed, there are still inequalities in the recognition and conditions for female players. The inaugural match of the World Cup will be on June 11 and will pit the national teams of Mexico and South Africa against each other in the legendary Azteca Stadium in the Mexican capital.