Thousands of teachers and supporters took to the streets of Mexico City on Tuesday, blocking a major avenue leading to the Azteca Stadium just days before the venue hosts the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The protests, led by a breakaway faction of the CNTE — Mexico's powerful dissident teachers' union — have intensified at a moment of maximum international visibility for the country, raising concerns about security and logistics ahead of the tournament.
The union has been on strike since last week, demanding salary increases and the reversal of a pension reform that the government considers financially unworkable. Protesters also set up camp near the World Cup fan zone in Mexico City's Zócalo, the capital's historic central square, where authorities erected a giant screen for supporters. On 1 June, police dispersed demonstrators near the site using rubber bullets and tear gas, and metal barriers still surround the area. Last Wednesday, a group of protesters stormed the Education Ministry building in the capital.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly described the protests as a "provocation", suggesting they are timed to embarrass Mexico in front of a global audience. "They want to make it seem like there is mass social turmoil in Mexico, and that's not true," she said. While favouring dialogue over confrontation, Sheinbaum has ruled out ordering police to forcibly suppress the demonstrations. She confirmed earlier on Tuesday that the opening match — Mexico versus South Africa on Thursday — is "guaranteed". Sheinbaum herself will not attend the ceremony at Azteca, but plans to join supporters at the Zócalo fan zone, adding that she will "see how the situation with the teachers evolves."
Authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel and erected concrete barriers roughly a kilometre from the stadium to prevent protesters from reaching the venue. Despite this, demonstrators have been unequivocal about their intentions. "We intend to reach the stadium," said protester Ángel Villalobos. "The government has given some responses, but they don't help, they don't satisfy." Teachers have also called for further demonstrations on Thursday, which are expected to include families of victims of enforced disappearances — people allegedly killed or abducted by authorities or criminal gangs.
The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and is the most logistically complex edition of the tournament ever organised. Mexico is still completing renovations at subway stations and at its main international airport. The Azteca Stadium, a storied venue in the south of the capital that has hosted two previous World Cup finals, will be under a global spotlight on Thursday — making the outcome of negotiations between the government and striking teachers all the more consequential.