Mexico’s national team have confirmed the backfiring of an influencer stunt.
The World Cup 2026 co-hosts had YouTuber SteveWillDoit visit their training ground after pocketing him a fortune.
Mexico’s 2-1 last 16 win over Ecuador earned the influencer over $2million on a bet that came in.
Already rich from his channel, the YouTuber thought the team deserved a treat, buying each player a Rolex watch as a thank you.
He posted to his 3.7million Instagram followers: “I gave every single player/ staff on Mexico team an expensive watch .. this was before they dominated Ecuador!!! How confident I was. BOOOOOOOOM.
“New YouTube video 8:30 eastern!! I love u guys. I love you Mexico . I love you Mexican football team. BOOM.”
However, as it turned out, his gift was in serious breach of FIFA’s Code of Ethics.
It states that players cannot be involved in betting or actions related to economic interests arising from a result, whether directly or indirectly.
On top of that, one of FIFA’s World Cup sponsors is rival watch brand Hublot.
Mexico were alerted of the breaches and later confirmed the return of the gifts.
They wrote: “The national team reports that by mutual agreement, our players decided to return to the content creator, stevewilldoit, the watches that he had gifted them on his own initiative.”
Despite the return of the gifts, FIFA are said to be investigating the entire incident, including how the creator was allowed in the team’s dressing room so soon after the win.
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