IMPI Seizes World Cup 2026 Counterfeit Merchandise in Mexico City

The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) seized World Cup 2026 counterfeit merchandise as part of an operation carried out in the Tepito market, in the center of Mexico City. As part of the agreement signed with FIFA, a raid was conducted in the 'brave neighborhood'. By noon this Thursday, March 26th, merchandise was seized from 4 warehouses and 15 stalls, mostly counterfeit apparel from football teams, reported the head of IMPI, Santiago Nieto. 'We are simultaneously inspecting 15 stalls and 4 warehouses as part of the agreement we reached with FIFA,' he said in an interview at the scene and announced that they will continue this type of operation, especially in the central area of the capital where this type of merchandise is usually sold, but also in the vicinity of the host stadiums. This is how the operation in Tepito to seize illegal World Cup 2026 merchandise went down. In an estimated period of 4 hours, the value of the goods can be determined, the official estimated in an interview at the location at number 46 on Calle Aztecas. Before 11:00 AM, IMPI personnel, accompanied by elements from the Citizen Security Secretariat and the Navy, raided the stalls in the plaza, where football team jerseys predominated. Minutes before 13:00, IMPI personnel continued to count the garments before bagging them and loading them onto the fourth truck where the merchandise was stored. In addition to Mexico City, IMPI is preparing operations against counterfeit merchandise in the host cities of the 2026 World Cup. The markets where seizures will be made are in the Tepito area, in the country's capital; in San Juan de Dios, in Guadalajara, and La Pulga, in Monterrey. As part of the operations against pirate products, IMPI destroyed 10,000 units of toys imported from China that represented copies of the industrial design registered by Lego.