Key Stakeholders Collaborate to Prevent Unauthorized Merchandise
The Mexican authorities are set to enforce anti-piracy measures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ensuring that unauthorized vendors do not set up within 3 kilometers of stadiums and “Fans Fest” areas. Santiago Nieto, Director of the Mexican Intellectual Property Institute (IMPI), announced this initiative in collaboration with federal government representatives, the Profeco, and FIFA.
Collaboration with Major Sponsors
Nieto explained that the IMPI is working closely with companies producing merchandise for the World Cup, including apparel, sports equipment, beverages, technology, and automotive brands. The aim is to educate these companies on identifying counterfeit products that infringe upon their intellectual property rights.
- Major sponsors of the 2026 World Cup include Adidas, Coca-Cola, Visa, Qatar Airways, Lenovo, Hyundai-Kia, and Aramco.
- Additional official sponsors are Bank of America, Lay’s, McDonald’s, Hisense, and AB InBev (Budweiser).
- Promoters supporting the event are The Home Depot, American Airlines, Diageo, Airbnb, Doordash, Verizon, and Boggi Milano.
Protecting Mexican Cultural Symbols
In addition to anti-piracy efforts, the IMPI Director emphasized the importance of safeguarding Mexico’s cultural symbols, particularly the professional wrestling industry, known as “lucha libre.” This sector is estimated to be a $5 billion global market, with projected growth to $7 billion by 2033.
To protect this industry from piracy, the IMPI will strengthen intellectual property mechanisms to secure names, masks, images, and brands of professional wrestlers. This will ensure that legitimate businesses can grow and thrive.
Preserving Mexican Traditions
Nieto also mentioned collaboration with federal tourism authorities to promote Mexican traditions, such as denominations of origin and geographical indications. Various state tourism secretaries have recognized the potential for creating thematic tourism routes based on these unique Mexican designations.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of the anti-piracy measures during the 2026 World Cup? The primary goal is to prevent unauthorized vendors from selling counterfeit merchandise within a 3-kilometer radius of stadiums and “Fans Fest” areas.
- Who is collaborating on these anti-piracy efforts? The Mexican Intellectual Property Institute (IMPI) is working with federal government representatives, Profeco, and FIFA to implement these measures.
- Which companies are being educated on identifying counterfeit products? The IMPI is collaborating with major sponsors and other companies producing merchandise for the 2026 World Cup.
- What cultural symbols is the IMPI protecting? The IMPI is safeguarding the professional wrestling industry, known as “lucha libre,” from piracy to support its growth and legitimacy.
- How are Mexican traditions being preserved during the World Cup? The IMPI and federal tourism authorities are working together to promote Mexican traditions, such as denominations of origin and geographical indications, through thematic tourism routes.
