Mexico national team football jerseys are on display at Mercado Libertad, a three-story market in downtown Guadalajara, Mexico, June 15 (local time). One of the city's largest traditional markets, it offers everything from local cuisine and handcrafted goods to clothing and electronics. Korea Times photo by Choi Ju-yeon
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — During the FIFA World Cup in North America, Guadalajara has become a paradise for counterfeit football jerseys. A large share of the jerseys sold on the streets — and worn by local residents — are imitation products rather than official merchandise produced by Adidas.
In the city where South Korea's group stage matches are being played, shops selling counterfeit jerseys are easy to find. Unlike in Korea, where such products are often concentrated in specific shopping districts, vendors in Mexico sell imitation jerseys almost everywhere — from supermarkets and street corners to areas outside national teams' base camps.
Price is the biggest factor behind their popularity. Counterfeit jerseys typically sell for 200 to 500 pesos, compared with around 2,000 pesos (about $120) for an authentic shirt. Some knockoffs are considered higher quality than others, with prices varying depending on factors such as breathability, stitching quality and the materials used for team crests and logos.
