Overview
- The FIFA gala took place at the Alcázar of the Castillo de Chapultepec on June 10 and was presided over by FIFA president Gianni Infantino with more than 200 international guests and a performance by Alejandro Fernández.
- INAH released an official note saying the event aimed to promote Mexican cultural heritage, followed applicable norms, applied preservation measures and that FIFA paid more than 1 million pesos for organization and rights.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the castle is rented for events, said FIFA paid the fee, and said she attended briefly to give a welcome message before leaving.
- Investigators and the museum’s published service rules state the Museo Nacional de Historia allows only cultural, academic or scientific events and explicitly forbids social or business gatherings, leaving a procedural and policy conflict unresolved.
- The controversy raises questions about transparency in approvals, how the cultural promotion department evaluates proposals, and whether the Secretaría de Cultura will clarify or change rules for future paid events at national monuments.