Mexico Return Luxury Watches Gifted by YouTuber After FIFA Ethics Violation

Mexico's national team has been forced to hand back a haul of luxury watches given to them by American content creator Stevewilldoit, after FIFA rules forbid players and staff from accepting expensive gifts. The YouTuber, whose real name is Stephen Deleonardis, said he splashed out $1 million (£747,000) on Rolex watches for every Mexico player and member of the coaching staff. He presented the gifts when he met the squad on Monday, the day before Mexico defeated Ecuador in the Round of 32. But FIFA's Code of Ethics, specifically article 21, states that gifts can only be accepted if they have "symbolic or trivial value." Expensive items like luxury watches fall well outside those guidelines. On Sunday evening local time (01:00 BST Monday), Mexico face England at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup are aiming to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 1986. According to a statement on Mexico's official X account, the players decided to return the watches "by mutual agreement" and emphasised that Stevewilldoit had gifted them "on his own initiative."