ALBAWABA - A dream was recently shattered after an 89-year-old grandfather was denied entry into a World Cup match despite his granddaughter's efforts.
According to Le Parisien, 26-year-old Paola Hernandez spent approximately $6,000 to let 89-year-old Chico Mendez watch his football team, Mexico, play in the 2026 World Cup. However, things took an unfortunate turn when Chico was denied entry to Guadalajara Stadium because the tickets Paola had bought from the StubHub app were still unavailable.
Reports indicate that Paola and Chico flew from San Diego to Guadalajara and arrived at the stadium six hours early to enjoy the World Cup atmosphere before watching the match between Mexico and South Korea.
World Cup scam? Woman buys grandfather $6,000 ticket, gets turned away at entrance
itspaaoolaaa via TikTok
Paola told the California Post, "Everything seemed normal. It was confirmed, and the payment had been made."
She added, in fear of being scammed, "I’ve used StubHub to buy tickets before without any problems. We arrived at the event, and they still hadn’t sent them to me."
Paola said that she tried contacting the platform multiple times but was met with constant delays, with support claiming that they were waiting for the seller to transfer the tickets. Despite promises from customer service that she would have to wait throughout the game's first half, the tickets never arrived.
89-year-old Chico Mendez broke down in tears outside the stadium after hearing over 45,000 fans roaring inside. Paula said, "It broke my heart. I was in tears seeing how broken his little heart was." She added, "He came with such excitement and high hopes. It was his dream, and to see it all shattered and to see him crying outside the stadium broke my heart."
Paola took to TikTok and told viewers that they watched the match on her phone outside the stadium. Moreover, she denounced that StubHub attempted to scam her.
StubHub responds after social media pressure
In response to the incident and backlash from social media users, StubHub contacted Paola and her grandfather, refunded the tickets, and offered them other tickets for Mexico's next match in Mexico City.
Paola had to refuse the offer due to her grandfather's health, who suffers from high blood pressure. Mexico City's high elevation of 2,240 meters can reduce oxygen levels and barometric pressure, which can increase blood pressure and heart rate for new visitors, making it a risky destination for Chico.
