Key facts
- Two Chinese football fans were robbed at gunpoint near Mexico City International Airport shortly after arriving for the World Cup.
- Valuables including passports, cash, watches, and laptops were stolen.
- One suspect has been arrested.
- The victims returned to China after less than 48 hours in Mexico.
- China is providing substantial technological and logistical support for the World Cup, including trains, buses, and broadcasting services.
Two Chinese football fans were robbed at gunpoint near Mexico City International Airport shortly after arriving to attend the World Cup. The incident occurred approximately one kilometer from the airport, with two masked individuals on a motorcycle holding up their car and stealing passports, cash, watches, and laptops. One victim sustained a mark on his forehead from the gun.
The victims contacted the police and the Chinese embassy, which confirmed it provided replacement travel documents and communicated with Mexican authorities, demanding efforts to solve the case and protect Chinese citizens' rights. One suspect has since been arrested.
Separately, a reporter also experienced a daylight robbery in Mexico City during the tournament, highlighting broader security concerns. The two Chinese fans returned to China after spending less than 48 hours in Mexico.
Despite the security incident, China's industrial and technological presence is significant at the World Cup. Chinese enterprises have supplied 115 light-rail trains and 1,000 new-energy buses for the tournament. China Railway No 4 Engineering Group also built a train line in Monterrey. Tencent Cloud is providing live-streaming services, Alibaba is a long-term sponsor, and Lenovo is deploying AI for match analysis and fan engagement.