MEXICO CITY — The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off in Mexico City on Thursday, amid demonstrations and protests.As football fans from across the world flood into tournament co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Central American country is grappling with chaotic teacher protests in its capital.Final preparations are underway for the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium as teachers’ protests and encampments continue in the city center, disrupting movement near key World Cup fan zones.Thousands of demonstrators blocked an avenue leading to Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on Tuesday.Tuesday’s protest, led by a breakaway group of the main teachers union, follows a week of demonstrations that President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a “provocation”.Various groups have taken to the streets to gain visibility due to the World Cup being held in Mexico, using the protests to voice their demands to the government.Demonstrators, the majority of whom are members of the National Educational Workers Coordination (CNTE), are staying day and night in tents set up on many streets in Mexico City’s historic district and are refusing to leave the area.Mexican protesters, who occasionally gather and confront police, include teachers demanding wage increases, changes to education policies, improvements to pension rights, and the repeal of pension laws, as well as groups seeking to locate missing relatives, the families, and supporters of the 43 trainee teachers who went missing in Ayotzinapa in 2014, retired judicial employees, animal rights activists, and farmers.While many parts of the old city were closed to traffic due to the demonstrations, the installation of massive barriers to block protesters’ access to certain areas has drawn attention.As major thoroughfares around Paseo de la Reforma, Insurgentes, and the historic center were periodically blocked by protesters, these developments led to traffic congestion in the city center and disruptions to public transportation.Tensions have occasionally flared between the two sides due to the overlap between the Fan Fest area set up by FIFA in Zocalo Square and the areas used by protesters.In the area blocked off with large barriers to prevent protesters, who aim to make Zocalo Square the center of their demonstrations, from entering, a large number of police officers are on duty.CNTE members are attempting to increase pressure on the government through demonstrations under the slogan “No solution, no ball rolls,” and it has been reported that some unions plan to continue protests throughout the World Cup if their demands are not met.Mexican protesters plan to continue their demonstrations ahead of the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Local sources stated that some groups intend to block roads by marching and protesting along routes leading to the stadium, while authorities have warned fans to arrive at the stadium early for the match.The 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match will take place on Thursday at 1900GMT at Mexico City Stadium, featuring host nation Mexico against South Africa in Group A.
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