This season, both clubs have tightened identity verification for stadium visitors and premium‑service subscribers using two‑factor OTP.
Why Do the OTP Channel Choices Differ?
Cruz Azul, which partners with local provider SMS Masking.id, prefers SMS because its legacy ticketing system is already integrated with SMS gateways.
Meanwhile, Pumas UNAM, focusing on a chat‑centric digital experience, integrates the WhatsApp Business API to send OTP directly to the messaging app fans already use for ticket inquiries.
Impact on Security and User Experience
The two approaches illustrate the trade‑off between SMS’s broad reach and WhatsApp’s high open‑rate.
FAQ
Q: Is WhatsApp OTP more secure than SMS?
A: WhatsApp uses end‑to‑end encryption, lowering interception risk, but security also depends on key management and sender‑ID verification.
Q: Can the clubs switch channels without changing their backend systems?
A: By using an omnichannel messaging gateway like the one offered by SMSMasking.id, channel switching can be done via API configuration without altering the core verification logic.