Mexico City declares school holiday and home‑office for 2026 World Cup opening

On the opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico City will close all schools and universities and encourage civil servants to work from home. The measure, announced in a decree signed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, excludes doctors, police, disaster responders and staff of critical infrastructure, and urges private firms to offer remote work to reduce traffic congestion.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. local time (19:30 CET) at the Azteca Stadium, featuring Colombian singer Shakira performing the official tournament song “Dai Dai.” The first match of the knockout stage will kick off at 13:00 local time (21:00 CET) between host nation Mexico and South Africa.