The return of the World Cup to Mexico opens “Pele’s secret hideout” | sports

In a modest room located inside a historic conference complex in Mexico City, visitors can enter the heart of football history, where the residence where Pele slept before leading Brazil to its third FIFA World Cup title in 1970 has been preserved.

As Mexico prepares to open the 2026 edition for the third time in the country’s history, which constitutes a record, next Thursday against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium, the exhibition held at the headquarters of the Inter-American Conference of Social Security provides a link that brings back memories to one of the most famous moments of the World Cup.

The chamber took on renewed importance as the tournament returned to Mexico, reconnecting the country with Brazil’s historic 4-1 win over Italy in the 1970 final, a win that cemented Pele’s legendary status.

“Brazil spent most of the tournament in Guadalajara and came to Mexico City only for the final match against Italy,” Pedro Kumamoto, Secretary General of the Inter-American Social Security Conference, told Reuters.

He added, “The question was where to put the Brazilian team. Everyone wanted a picture, a greeting, an autograph, or a handshake from Pele. The king himself slept here.”

The complex, which was built in 1963 for diplomatic meetings, was chosen to become a safe haven away from the crowds attracted by Pele’s international fame.

The exhibition now includes furniture from that era, memorabilia from the 1970 World Cup, and a working television showing footage of Brazil’s victory.

Local memories of the football icon’s stay are still vivid and clear more than five decades later.

“I recently met a neighbor who was six or seven years old when Pele came here, and now he is nearly seventy,” Kumamoto said. “I remember him as an approachable person, very friendly.”

He said that Pele kept signing memorabilia until he was no longer able to do so, and spent a lot of time with fans abroad.

The balcony from which Pele greeted his fans still overlooks the arena without any change. “There is also a beautiful story about the balcony where Pele went out to greet the fans,” Kumamoto said. “It is still the same balcony, the same place, with an echo of history within its walls.”

More than half a century after Brazil’s victory, the state-of-the-art museum preserves a chapter in World Cup history as football’s biggest event returns to Mexico once again.