Mexico cracks down on pirated goods ahead of World Cup

MEXICO – Dozens of packages stuffed with shiny football jerseys have piled up in a Mexico City warehouse, each with a sticker reading “seized merchandise”, pirated products for the 2026 World Cup. Authorities have seized US$1.3 million worth of counterfeit goods in Mexico City over the past three months, ahead of the global football tournament that begins on 11 June and is co-hosted with the United States and Canada. But sales of knockoff merchandise are still surging, as the soaring cost of tickets and official products has fuelled demand for cheaper alternatives.

In downtown Mexico City, street vendors hawk pirated goods on the sidewalks, with team shirts for Mexico, Argentina and Colombia selling for US$10 to US$20, roughly one-tenth the price of an official Mexico national team shirt. “The World Cup is almost here, and I would really like to have my shirt for when Mexico wins,” 27-year-old engineer Jorge Ruiz tells AFP after buying two knockoff Mexico shirts for about US$40, one white and another green. Ruiz avoided going to the store, where an official jersey made of special anti-perspiration fabric costs nearly US$200.