Mexico City protests erupt as FIFA World Cup 2026 opens

On 11 June 2026 the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 (Mexico vs South Africa) was held in Mexico City. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson and Canadian Ambassador Cameron Mackay used the occasion to praise the cooperation and friendship among the three North‑American nations.

At the same time, large demonstrations marched toward the stadium. Groups of mothers of the disappeared (Madres Buscadoras) and teachers from the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) demanded answers on missing persons, better pension conditions and basic services. After negotiating with authorities they were allowed to set up near the arena, displaying signs such as “México campeón mundial en desapariciones y feminicidios”. About 50 participants highlighted that over 133 000 people are listed as missing.

The city government carried out an intensive “urban makeup” – fresh paint on façades, rapid sidewalk repairs, tree pruning and cleaning – to present a modern image for the tournament. Critics noted that the metro continued to suffer recurrent failures, the international airport faced saturation and delays, and areas like Parque Flotante recently flooded, underscoring deeper infrastructure problems that the cosmetic work masks.