Thousands of protesters flooded major roads leading to Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca on Thursday, just hours before the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The demonstrators, made up of labour unions, student groups, civil society organisations and families of missing persons, staged the protest around key access routes to the stadium, which is set to host the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa.
The protest drew attention to a range of social and political grievances, highlighting tensions that have persisted despite the excitement surrounding the World Cup.
Authorities deployed additional security personnel and implemented traffic control measures as crowds of football fans made their way to the venue.
Several protest organisers told local media that they intentionally timed the demonstration to coincide with the World Cup opener in order to draw global attention to their demands.
Despite the disruption, tournament organisers maintained that the opening match would go ahead as planned.
Security officials established wider security perimeters around Estadio Azteca and advised supporters to arrive early, while efforts continued to keep access points open and prevent major disruptions.
Mexico has long struggled with challenges including organised crime, insecurity and the unresolved crisis of thousands of missing persons, issues that many protesters said should not be overshadowed by the global football spectacle.
Mexico is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Canada. The host nation will take on South Africa in the opening fixture, scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. Nigerian time.
Ahead of the match, Nigerian music star Burna Boy is expected to join Colombian singer Shakira during the opening ceremony to perform Dai Dai, one of the official songs of the tournament. :::
