Mexico Returns $1 Million Rolex Gifts After FIFA Ethics Ruling

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Mexican national football team received luxury Rolex watches from American social‑media influencer Stephen Deleonardis, known as Stevewilldoit. The gifts, valued at roughly one million US dollars, were presented to players and staff before Mexico’s round‑of‑16 match.

FIFA’s Code of Ethics prohibits the acceptance of high‑value items, allowing only symbolic or low‑cost gifts. The Mexican Football Federation therefore ordered the watches returned, stating the presents were given without prior approval. The incident attracted broad media coverage and reignited debate over the strictness of FIFA’s gift‑rule enforcement. Mexico later exited the tournament after a 3‑2 loss to England.