A few hours before the expected debut of the Mexico team in it World Cup 2026the journalist TUDN, Julio Ibanezshared an emotional video that quickly became a trend on social networks. The communicator sent a message full of feelings before the confrontation between Mexico and South Africaremembering the complicated experience he lived in African territory.
The reporter made a direct call to the national team to seek victory in a match that, for him, has a much deeper meaning than sports.
“The truth I come to tell you to do it for mebecause They humiliated me and because only this thorn that hurt my heartwhich put three months of my life on hold, It will heal with what moves me the most“he declared Ibanez.
Today, like many, I will have a hard time sleeping, tomorrow a World Cup will be played at home and there will also be a revenge that South Africa will pay, that is why I send this message from the bottom of my heart to the players of @miseleccionmx
See you tomorrow through @TUDNMEX? pic.twitter.com/ukZmbQLt7F
— Julio ‘Profe’ Ibañez (@julioiba) June 11, 2026
The difficult experience of Julio Ibáñez in South Africa
The journalist’s statements are related to the rapidly-witted process he faced during his stay in South Africawhere he was detained on accusations of terrorism, espionage, illegal stay in the country and organized crime.
For this reason, the meeting between Mexican National Team and the African team represents for him a kind of emotional revenge after one of the most complicated episodes of his professional career.
“They humiliated us, They discriminated against us for being Mexican. From day one they were following us; “They were waiting for any pretext, such as the drone, to accuse us at the time of terrorism, espionage, of being illegal in their country and of organized crime,” the reporter mentioned.
The imprisonment that marked the TUDN journalist
According to his story, Julio Ibanez He remained deprived of liberty in South African territory for three months before regaining his freedom.
After resolving his rapidly-witted situation, the journalist returned to Mexico with the aim of reuniting with his family and returning to his professional activities, especially in the face of covering the World Cup 2026one of the most important sporting events on the planet.
His story generated a great impact among fans and media colleagues, who closely followed his case during the months he remained outside the country.
In the same video, the communicator recalled the outcome of the process he faced in South Africa and sent a message of support to the players led by the Mexican National Team before the World Cup commitment.
“The nightmare is over, we pleaded guilty to flying a drone without permission, which was equivalent to a traffic ticket.
I did know the South African prison, I knew what a country full of racism experienced, but I was also a victim of being Mexican. Gentlemen, have a lot of success and have a blast,” he concluded in his video.
Mexico vs South Africa, a match with emotional charge
Beyond the sporting importance that the debut of the Mexican National Team in the World Cup 2026the match against South Africa will have a special burden to Julio Ibanezwho hopes that a victory for the national team will help close one of the most difficult chapters of his life.
While the ball is about to roll, the journalist’s message has already generated thousands of reactions on social networks, becoming one of the most talked about stories in the run-up to the World Cup match.
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