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FIFA backs Ino Cat
FIFA invited influencer Ino Cat, whose real name is Yoon Soo-jin, to attend the South Korea-Mexico match after she experienced racial discrimination during the first Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico on the 12th.
“Ino Cat has been invited to the 2026 North-Central American World Cup South Korea-Mexico match”
FIFA announced on the 17th (Korea Time) that "Ino Cat has been invited to the 2026 North-Central American World Cup South Korea-Mexico match to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico on the 19th," and that Ino Cat accepted the proposal.
The incident was captured in a video in which a Mexican man made a gesture of stretching his eyes sideways with both hands toward the camera, described as the "slant-eye," a derogatory gesture toward East Asians.
The man was identified as Ulysses Fernando Bernal Miramontes, president of the Jalisco State Surveying and Geomatics Engineers Association (CITGEJ), and he later apologized on his personal SNS on the 14th, saying, "I sincerely apologize to the Korean fan and everyone who felt uncomfortable due to my actions."
Apology, ticket block
FIFA said it had confirmed the identity of the person who committed racial discrimination against Ino Cat during the South Korea-Czech Republic match, and that the person’s World Cup ticketing account has been blocked.
In the same statement, FIFA said it had also confirmed the apology letter sent by the individual, and it added, "FIFA strongly condemns all forms of racial discrimination, hate, and discriminatory behavior."
Global Times reported that FIFA invited Inonyang to the Korea-Mexico match in Guadalajara on June 19 and that Inonyang accepted the offer, with the match day coinciding with the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
The News Mill (with ANI inputs) said Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes was removed from his position after a video showed him making a racist "slant-eye" gesture toward South Korean content creator Yoon Su-jin, known online as Incocat_t, during South Korea’s 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic.
Message of inclusion
FIFA framed the invitation as part of a broader anti-hate message, saying the match day overlaps with "World Day for Countering Hate Speech" and that it decided to deliver a message of respect and inclusion with Inonyang.
“Because the match day coincides with 'World Day for Countering Hate Speech,' we decided to deliver a message of respect and inclusion with Inonyang.”
Chosunbiz reported FIFA’s line that it invited Inonyang to the Korea-Mexico match in Guadalajara, Mexico on the 19th and that Inonyang accepted the offer, adding, "Because the match day coincides with 'World Day for Countering Hate Speech,' we decided to deliver a message of respect and inclusion with Inonyang."
South China Morning Post said FIFA told Korean media that the game would carry an anti-hate message and that the match would be used to deliver a "message of inclusion and respect".
The BBC article on World Cup spending also captured the tournament’s wider fan context, quoting Norwegian fan Morten Oftedal saying, "It's not really for individuals, I feel like it's for corporate America," as he described costs for attending a match in the host nations of Mexico, Canada and the US.
