Mexico: Protesters allege Hyundai's sponsorship of the World Cup would be a form of “greenwashing through sports”
"Guadalajara protesters accuse Hyundai of using World Cup to hide ‘dirty supply chain’", 21 June 2026
...Community leaders, climate advocates and workers took to the streets to protest what they describe as “greenwashing through sports” by one of the official sponsors of the World Cup amid allegations of irregularities in its supply chain.
The protest organizers argue that Hyundai-Kia should hold its supplier, Ternium, accountable and issue it a “red card.” Protesters accuse Ternium of human rights violations, including alleged links to the disappearance of two environmental activists.
The demonstrations began with a rally at 5 p.m. in Plaza de la Liberación. Participants sought to draw attention to cases of missing persons in Guadalajara, stating they went missing after protesting Ternium’s iron ore mining activities...
Ternium did not respond to the protesters’ allegations, while Hyundai did so in a statement.
“At Hyundai, we are committed to requiring our suppliers to meet the highest standards, and we enforce a strict Supplier Code of Conduct. Both we and our subsidiaries continue to conduct ongoing training, audits, and due diligence processes throughout the supply chain to identify and address potential issues across all our global operations,” said Michael Stewart, Hyundai’s director of communications...
“[Hyundai] is trying to clean up its image through its sponsorship of the World Cup. But the facts are clear: Hyundai is linked to human rights and environmental abuses in Mexico, Brazil, the United States and other countries. By partnering with steel suppliers like Ternium, its slogan of ‘doing the right thing for humanity’ loses credibility”...
On July 5, a symbolic soccer match and a concert will be held in Monterrey’s Fundidora Park to protest Ternium as one of the city’s most polluting companies...
Protesters also questioned Hyundai’s use of robots at World Cup venues and the tournament’s impact on local workers, including allegations of labor exploitation and rising housing costs in host cities. The organizations Public Citizen and Jobs to Move America demanded transparency from Hyundai regarding the type of data collected by the robots at World Cup stadiums.
Hyundai, in response to the allegations of data collection, said in a statement that it is focusing on the “Next Starts Now” campaign, in which it is “using mobility, robotics, technology, and engagement programs to connect people with the excitement of the event”...