Just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, the organisers have been plunged into crisis as striking teachers blocked the main route to the iconic Azteca Stadium, threatening to paralyse the opening match and raise fresh questions about the tournament’s preparations.
Union action brings capital to a halt
Mexico is facing serious disruption on the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with mass protests and rallies breaking out in the capital. Demonstrators have blocked access to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where the opening ceremony and the first match of the tournament are due to take place on June 11.
According to various international reports, the strikes and protests have been organised by members of the education workers’ union, who are demanding an increase in their wages.
After the government rejected the protesters’ latest proposal last Saturday, those taking part have threatened to block both the airport and the Azteca Stadium during the World Cup. With just two days to go until the opening match, the main road leading to the venue has already been closed.
Crisis talks and mounting pressure on FIFA chief
Organisers and local authorities have now launched urgent negotiations with activist groups in a bid to avert chaos. The standoff has heaped further pressure on the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, who was scheduled to hold a rare press conference ahead of the opening fixture.
Amid a growing rift in Mexican public opinion, President Claudia Sheinbaum has further fuelled the controversy by giving up her own VIP seat at the opening match to a 21-year-old local woman named Yolette Cervantes Cuacuehua.
A total of 48 national teams are taking part in the tournament, divided into 12 groups of four. The two top sides from each group will advance to the knockout stage, along with the eight best third‑placed teams. The World Cup is being hosted by three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada.
