Creator Drama
Mexico National Team Returns SteveWillDoIt Rolex Gifts Amid FIFA Ethics Concerns
Resolved
Via SteveWillDoIt on YouTube All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 7 events from Jul 3, 2026 to Jul 5, 2026, drawn from 3 sources.
“By mutual agreement, our players decided to return to the content creator the watches that he had gifted them on his own initiative.”
via mirror.co.uk
Background
American content creator Stephen Deleonardis, widely known by his online alias SteveWillDoIt, is recognized for his extravagant gestures and online presence. Prior to the Mexico national soccer team's game against Ecuador, Deleonardis reportedly spent $1 million on Rolex watches, intending to gift one to every player and staff member.
His motivation for this substantial gift stemmed from a personal wager; he had placed a $2 million bet on Mexico to win the match. Following Mexico's 2-0 victory, Deleonardis reportedly earned $1.2 million from his successful bet, leading him to proceed with the Rolex gifts as a form of motivation and celebration.
The acceptance of such gifts by football players and staff is governed by strict regulations outlined in FIFA's Code of Ethics.
Specifically, Article 20 and Article 21 of these rules prohibit players and staff from accepting gifts from fans that do not possess some form of “symbolic or tribal value.” These regulations are designed to prevent any potential manipulation of match results or to avoid situations where players might feel obligated or influenced due to receiving valuable gifts.
Violations of these rules can lead to severe penalties, including a fine of at least $12,500 and a ban from all football-related activities for up to two years.
The timeline
-
SteveWillDoIt Gifts Rolex Watches to Mexico Team
American content creator Stephen Deleonardis, known as SteveWillDoIt, spent $1 million on Rolex watches for every Mexico national soccer team player and staff member. He presented these gifts just prior to their game against Ecuador, stating his intention was to motivate them for the match. A video posted to Instagram reportedly showed Mexico players throwing Deleonardis in the air upon learning of the gifts. Deleonardis had reportedly placed a $2 million bet on Mexico to win this game, which they subsequently won 2-0, earning him $1.2 million.[669]
-
Rolex Gifts Allegedly Contravene FIFA Ethics Code
The gifting of Rolex watches to the Mexico national team reportedly contravened FIFA's Code of Ethics, specifically Article 20 and Article 21. These rules prohibit players and staff from accepting gifts from fans that do not possess "symbolic or tribal value." The regulations are designed to prevent match manipulation or conflicts of interest arising from obligations to gift-givers. Violations can lead to fines of at least $12,500 and bans from football-related activities for up to two years.[669]
-
Mexico National Team Announces Return of Rolex Watches
The Mexico national soccer team announced that, by mutual agreement, their players decided to return the Rolex watches gifted to them by content creator Stephen Deleonardis. This decision was made to avoid potential penalties from FIFA related to the acceptance of gifts. The team's official X account, @miseleccionmx, posted a statement confirming the return of the watches that Deleonardis had given "on his own initiative." Manager Javier Aguirre was also reported to have received and subsequently returned a watch.[669]
-
Selección Nacional Posts Official Statement on X
The official X account for the Mexico national team, @miseleccionmx, published a statement on July 3, 2026, informing the public that "by mutual agreement, our players decided to return to the content creator, @stevewilldoit, the watches that he had gifted them on his own initiative." This post served as the official confirmation of the team's action to comply with FIFA regulations.[670]
-
World Cup Preparations Reportedly Disrupted by Gift Controversy
The controversy surrounding the Rolex watches reportedly disrupted the Mexico national team's preparations for their World Cup Round of 16 match against England. The team's football association bosses reportedly had to address the potential issue arising from the lucrative gifts. This disruption occurred alongside other uncertainties, including reports of a sudden, unconsulted change in the kick-off time for the England match.[671]
-
Manager Javier Aguirre Angered by Unconsulted Kick-off Change
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre, who reportedly also received and returned a Rolex watch, expressed significant anger over an alleged sudden change in the kick-off time for the upcoming World Cup match against England. Aguirre stated that the change, which was reportedly brought forward by seven hours, was like "a kick in the gut" and disrupted the team's entire plan, including scheduled training, food, naps, and physiotherapy. He claimed that neither the Mexican FA nor the English FA were consulted about this change by FIFA.[671]
-
Mexico Prepares for World Cup Round of 16 Match Against England
Following the resolution of the Rolex watch situation, the Mexico national team is set to play England in the World Cup Round of 16. The match is scheduled to take place at Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium). The winner of this contest will advance to face either Norway or Brazil in the quarter-finals. The kick-off time for this match is 1 AM BST and 8 PM local time.[669]
Who is involved
Frequently asked
Why did SteveWillDoIt give the Mexico team Rolex watches?
Content creator Stephen Deleonardis, known as SteveWillDoIt, gifted Rolex watches to the Mexico national team as motivation before their game against Ecuador. He had placed a $2 million bet on Mexico to win that match, which they did, earning him $1.2 million, and he reportedly spent $1 million on the watches.
Why did the Mexico team return the Rolex watches?
The Mexico national team returned the Rolex watches to comply with FIFA's Code of Ethics. FIFA rules, specifically Article 20 and 21, prohibit players and staff from accepting gifts from fans that lack "symbolic or tribal value" to prevent potential match manipulation or conflicts of interest. Returning the watches helped the team avoid potential fines and bans from football-related activities.
What are the potential penalties for accepting such gifts under FIFA rules?
Under FIFA's Code of Ethics, violations related to accepting gifts without symbolic value can result in a fine of at least $12,500 and a ban from football-related activity for up to two years.
Who is SteveWillDoIt?
SteveWillDoIt is the alias of American content creator Stephen Deleonardis, known for his online videos and grand gestures.
Related drama
Sources
- dexerto.com, @stevewilldoit / Instagram The Mexican national soccer team has returned Rolex watches gifted to them by American content creator SteveWillDoIt due to the prospect of a ban from FIFA. American YouTube, Jul 5, 2026.
- Twitter (original post), Original twitter post by Selección Nacional: La SNM informa que de común acuerdo nuestros jugadores decidieron regresar al creador de contenido, @stevewilldoit los relojes que por iniciativa propia le, Jul 5, 2026.
- mirror.co.uk, Mexico are preparing to face England in the World Cup round of 16 but their football association's bosses have had to pour water over a potential issueThe Mexico national team have announced their pla, Jul 5, 2026.