Mexico Education Minister Mario Delgado blames CNTE of politicising World Cup 2026 protests

Mexico’s Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado, said the teachers’ union Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) is continuing protests in Mexico City to coincide with the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He claimed the demonstrations aim to damage Mexico’s international image and serve political interests, despite the government’s ongoing dialogue with union leaders.

Delgado highlighted that a fourth meeting had been held with CNTE representatives, during which the government offered proposals on teachers’ pensions, the replacement of the USICAMM framework, and a nationwide consultation on a new model for teacher promotion and mobility. He stressed that the administration respects peaceful protest but expects the union to engage constructively in the reform process.