Azteca accreditation centre crawls on eve of World Cup amid faults and staff shortages | OneFootball

The World Cup accreditation process at the Azteca in Mexico City crawled on the eve of the tournament, hit by faulty kit and thin volunteer numbers.

According to L'Équipe, a journalist suffered hypoglycaemia in the crush. Volunteers cleared space, called for help, sat him down and kept him awake by waving a mouse mat. He soon improved.

Frustration had already grown as only four of six passport and photo machines, and at times just three, were working. After the incident, the centre slowed further. Open since 10 May, it still did not look ready.

Access proved convoluted. FIFA’s address sends visitors to the far side, not door six that serves all accreditations, from media and volunteers to venue staff, security and the Guardia Nacional. A young FIFA official looked overwhelmed by the line.

Because of the surge, door six was opened only in fits and starts. Beyond it sat a second queue where two volunteers checked passports and accreditation numbers.

A mother carrying a baby was waved straight to the third queue for the scanners. Once recovered, the unwell journalist also skipped to the fourth queue, the pickup desk run by only three volunteers. After hours of inching forward, the badge finally went round the neck.

Source: L'Équipe