Mexico is set to become the first country to host the FIFA World Cup three times when the 2026 tournament kicks off on 11 June, co-hosted alongside the United States and Canada. The competition — the first ever staged across three nations — will span 16 cities on a single continent over 39 days, marking an unprecedented logistical and diplomatic undertaking. Yet as the opening approaches, Mexico City is contending with significant domestic turbulence that is casting a shadow over the celebrations.

Protesting teachers from the dissident CNTE union escalated their campaign this week by toppling and burning football player statues along Paseo de la Reforma, one of the Mexican capital's most iconic boulevards. The union is demanding a 100% salary increase and has flatly rejected a government offer of 9%, threatening to disrupt matches and fan events — including the World Cup's opening ceremony — with further demonstrations. Police have already used tear gas near the Zocalo, the city's historic central square, where major fan gatherings are planned. Beyond the labour dispute, questions have persisted about the readiness of Mexico City's main airport, its strained public transport network, and the revamped Azteca stadium, which will host key fixtures. A brief but unsettling display of cartel presence on city streets earlier this year added to concerns.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has remained publicly optimistic throughout, describing the tournament as