Pachuca Businesses Face Millions in Fines During World Cup

Pachuca bars, restaurants and hotels hoping to profit from the World Cup crowds better watch their step. Use the wrong logo, show the match without permission or slap a FIFA trademark on your menu and you could be staring at a fine of up to 29 million pesos.

The warning comes straight from the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) as Mexico gears up to host the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Canada. The agency is on high alert for businesses that break FIFA's strict intellectual property rules and the penalties are designed to make anyone think twice before cutting legal corners.

FIFA holds more than 300 registered trademarks related to the tournament, according to Carolina Perez Luna, IMPI's divisional director of Intellectual Property Protection. That includes names, logos, mascots, images, slogans, official songs and promotional elements. Everything is locked down with full legal protection and FIFA aggressively enforces those rights worldwide against anyone who uses them without proper authorization.

The crackdown covers three key areas. First, IMPI will run operations against the distribution of counterfeit merchandise in markets and stores across the country. Second, they are targeting illegal and irregular online broadcasts of matches through streaming sites and social media platforms. Third, they are watching physical businesses like restaurants, bars and hotels that use World Cup content commercially without authorization.

These inspections are not optional. They are part of Mexico's commitments to FIFA as a host nation. FIFA has a well known history of protecting its sponsors' exclusive rights with extreme rigor. Companies like Coca-Cola, Adidas, Visa and Budweiser pay hundreds of millions of dollars for official sponsorship status and FIFA ensures they get the exclusivity they paid for without exceptions for small businesses.

The message is clear for business owners in Pachuca and across Hidalgo state. Do not put up a poster with the World Cup logo unless you have paid for that right. Do not advertise "World Cup specials" with official imagery. Do not stream matches on a big screen without the proper broadcast license. Do not sell unlicensed jerseys, hats or commemorative items. Any of these violations could trigger fines that would devastate a small business.

The 29 million peso figure reflects the maximum penalties under Mexican intellectual property law for commercial misuse of protected trademarks on a repeated or large-scale basis. For most small restaurants and bars in Pachuca, even a fraction of that amount would be devastating for a family-run operation.

The situation puts local businesses in a tough spot. The World Cup brings a flood of customers looking for places to watch games, eat out and buy souvenirs. But legal restrictions make it hard for small operators to participate without risking everything. Large corporations pay millions for official sponsorship and get the logos, broadcasting rights and merchandising deals. Local businesses get a warning that the same rules apply with no exceptions.

For travelers visiting Pachuca during the World Cup, expect fewer bars and restaurants openly promoting match viewings. Official merchandise will be in big retail chains at premium prices. IMPI says it will be running inspections and operations throughout the tournament period across the country. In Pachuca and everywhere else, the message is the same: play by the rules or pay the price.