A shared love for soccer unites three generations of the Rueda family in Mexico City, spanning from Fernando, a fan of Pele, to Jairo, who admires Maradona, and Emilio, a supporter of France.
However, exorbitant ticket prices for the first World Cup in Mexico in four decades have forced the trio to watch from the sidelines.
For the first time since Mexico first hosted the tournament in 1970, Fernando Rueda, along with his son and grandson, will miss out on experiencing the event in their own country.
FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, has come under intense scrutiny for the high cost of tickets for the upcoming World Cup in June and July, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Victor Hugo “Jairo” Rueda, a 51-year-old financial advisor, made every effort to secure tickets for one of the 13 matches taking place in Mexico.
Despite being unsuccessful in the official lottery where ticket prices started at $60, Jairo was left with no choice but to explore resale platforms, where tickets were being sold for thousands of dollars above their face value.
On StubHub, a non-VIP ticket for the opening match was listed for a staggering $16,769 on Thursday (equivalent to about 290,000 Mexican pesos).
“The ticket prices have become unattainable,” Jairo expressed during an interview at his residence near the Azteca stadium, the venue for the opening game, criticizing FIFA for transforming soccer into an exclusive and elitist pursuit.
The experience of his 86-year-old father, a retired civil servant who attended two previous World Cups, highlights the evolution of the sport.
In 1986, during Mexico’s second hosting of the World Cup, Fernando received tickets to three matches — Argentina versus South Korea, Mexico against Iraq, and England playing Paraguay — from a coworker who was not particularly passionate about soccer.
Recollections of Maradona
“Both of my sons attended all three matches,” Fernando proudly mentioned.
Such a gesture from a colleague seems almost unimaginable in the current era where online resale platforms facilitate the exchange of tickets for exorbitant prices, reaching tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for premium games.
Jairo vividly remembers the events of 1986.
At the age of 12, he was already deeply engrossed in soccer.
He fondly recalls the brilliance of Argentine prodigy Diego Maradona, the disappointment of Mexican star forward Hugo Sanchez missing a penalty against Paraguay, and the nervousness of being surrounded by English hooligans in the stands.
“There were long queues at the ticket booths as you entered the stadium because tickets could be purchased on the match day,” he reminisced.
Both father and son fondly reminisce about the excitement that engulfed Mexico City during past tournaments.
Fernando, an admirer of Pele who led an exceptional Brazilian team to victory in the 1970 championship, recalls watching matches at his workplace.
“We somehow convinced a colleague with a television to bring it to the office, and that’s where we watched the games, trying not to get too carried away as it was a government setting,” he shared, smiling at the memory.
‘A Sense of Disappointment’
More than five decades later, his 13-year-old grandson Emilio, who has been playing soccer since the age of six, feels let down by missing out on his first World Cup in his homeland.
“I feel somewhat disappointed about not being able to attend,” he expressed, acknowledging his envy towards his father and grandfather’s previous World Cup experiences.
Gathered around their family table, the three enthusiasts showcase their collections, which include Panini sticker albums from Mexico 1986 to Qatar 2022, jerseys, and memorabilia of their beloved teams and players.
Despite being cautious about Mexico’s chances of success
