The Secretariat of Citizen Security of CDMX organised the 'Mascot Challenge' at the temporary pitch in Glorieta de los Insurgentes, where mascots from different areas competed in a tournament that promoted social reintegration, as the field was built by incarcerated individuals.
The Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) of Mexico City celebrated this Thursday the “Mascot Challenge”, a football tournament that brought together 17 official mascots of the corporation at the temporarily installed World Cup pitch in Glorieta de los Insurgentes. The event, framed within the activities leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, combined sport, camaraderie, and a message of social reintegration.
A Pitch Made in Prison
The most significant detail of the tournament was that the playing field was not just any field. The pitch used for the matches was crafted by incarcerated individuals from the Male Preventive Detention Centre North, as part of the productive work they carry out under the brand Hazme Valer. This initiative aims to promote social reintegration through projects that generate income and job skills for the inmates.
According to the SSC, the construction of the pitch is part of a broader programme that has already produced urban furniture, sports items, and other elements for public spaces. In this case, the portable pitch was designed to withstand fast football matches and will be reused in future community events.
Matches, Penalties, and Lots of Laughter
The tournament featured mascots such as Jaguar, Corso, Semaforina, K8, Atenea, Andor, Guerrero, Anubis, Tanis, Prudencia, Zorro, Pixan, Zayu, Águila, Capibara, Los Ratoncitos, and Sonic. Each represented different subsecretariats and groups of the SSC, from the Banking and Industrial Police to the Subsecretariat of the Penitentiary System.
The matches were marked by spectacular plays, penalty shootouts, comedic falls, and humorous moments that attracted the attention of families and visitors strolling through the area. The final pitted the duo of Sonic and Zorro against Semaforina and K8, with victory going to the former. Sonic, representing the Subsecretariat of the Penitentiary System, and Zorro, from the Task Force Group, took home the trophy.
World Cup-Flavoured Prizes
At the end of the day, the subsecretary of the Penitentiary System, Andrés Ponce Aceituno, led the awards ceremony and presented World Cup-shaped trophies to all participating mascots. He also acknowledged the work of the referee of the tournament. Ponce Aceituno highlighted the enthusiasm and commitment of the SSC staff, noting that, in addition to their security functions, they promote teamwork, camaraderie, and physical activity.
The capital's agency reported that this activity is part of the actions leading up to the 2026 World Cup to strengthen integration among the different areas of the corporation while also highlighting the productive work carried out by incarcerated individuals as part of their social reintegration process.
A Nod to Reintegration
For readers interested in reintegration policies, the key point is that the pitch was made by inmates from Reclusorio Norte, demonstrating that these programmes can have practical applications and public visibility. The brand Hazme Valer, under which these products are marketed, aims to break stigmas and offer a second chance to those serving sentences.
The SSC has not announced whether there will be a second edition of the tournament, but the positive reception among the public suggests that the mascots could return to the field. In the meantime, the pitch will continue to be a meeting point in Glorieta de los Insurgentes in the coming days, coinciding with the events leading up to the World Cup.
You may also like
