Mexico’s 2026 World Cup Team Returns $1 Million Worth of Rolex Watches

The Mexico national football team has returned luxury Rolex watches gifted to them by American influencer Stevewilldoit (Steve Deleonardis). The reason for turning down the expensive present lies in strict FIFA ethics rules, which the players could have unintentionally violated.

The influencer handed out the luxury timepieces to the footballers at the national team's training base right before their World Cup Round of 32 match against Ecuador (which Mexico ultimately won 2-0).

A $2 Million Bet and "Free" Rolexes

Steve Deleonardis published a video on his YouTube channel revealing that the value of each watch ranged from $30,000 to $90,000, with the total cost of the gifts for the entire team amounting to around $1 million.

In the clip, the creator explained his generosity by sharing that he had placed a $2 million bet on Mexico to beat Ecuador. The net profit from the wager was expected to be around $1 million—the exact amount he decided to distribute to the team "in advance" in the form of elite watches. When midfielder Obed Vargas questioned the reason behind the gesture, Deleonardis replied that he currently lives in Mexico and supports the local national team with all his heart.

Strict FIFA Limits: Fines and Suspensions

According to the FIFA Code of Ethics, football players and officials are only permitted to accept gifts of "symbolic or trivial value." Any presents that could be construed as an attempt to influence match participants or create a conflict of interest are strictly forbidden (especially given the donor's million-dollar wagers).

What did the players risk facing for violating FIFA regulations?

• Disciplinary measures and heavy fines of up to 10,000 Swiss francs (approximately $12,500).

• A ban from all football-related activity for a period of up to two years.

A Timely Rejection

The management of the Mexican national team reacted swiftly to the situation, announcing on their social media channels that all the watches would be returned to the influencer. The statement emphasized that this decision was reached jointly with Deleonardis, and that the gift initiative had come solely from the American content creator.