Mexico City police on Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly attempting to rent out his official FIFA World Cup accreditation on social media, providing unauthorized access to stadium areas, according to local authorities cited by Reuters.
Arrest Near Azteca Stadium
The suspect was detained near the iconic Azteca Stadium after trying to reactivate his credential, the city's Citizen Security Secretariat reported. A legal representative of World Cup organizers alerted police after noticing online posts advertising the alleged offer, though the fee sought was not disclosed.
Mexico City's World Cup Role
Mexico City is hosting multiple matches in the expanded 48-team tournament, including group-stage fixtures involving the host nation. Later Wednesday, debutants Uzbekistan faced Colombia in a Group K clash at the capital. The accused, not identified, has been handed to the public prosecutor's office for legal proceedings.
Mexico's Opening Victory
Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez gave Mexico a 2-0 win over South Africa on June 12 at Azteca Stadium, marking their 22nd successive win against African teams. The match featured three red cards and was the 20th World Cup match at Azteca, a record for any stadium.
Quinones scored the tournament's earliest goal in the ninth minute, the fastest since Philipp Lahm's 2006 goal for Germany. Jimenez added a header in the 67th minute. South Africa received two red cards, while Mexico also had a player sent off in stoppage time.
