Huge chaos before the start of the World Cup! Thousands of protesters blocked the road to the stadium for the opening match
Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Tuesday, 09 June 2026 23:27 / Updated on Tuesday, 09 June 2026 23:27
Just two days before the opening match of the World Cup, the Mexican authorities are facing an extremely tense situation. Thousands of demonstrators blocked access to Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, the arena that will host the opening game of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa, scheduled for Thursday, June 11.
The protests raised the alert level of law enforcement, and the organizers of the competition are carefully following the evolution of the situation.
PHOTO. Thousands of people took to the streets
The demonstrations were organized by the radical faction of Mexico's Teachers Union, the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE), which has been protesting for several days against pension reform.
Sunday's demonstration was the culmination of a week of protests that paralyzed several areas of the Mexican capital.
Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, described the actions as a challenge, but has so far avoided harsh measures, trying to manage the situation through dialogue and de-escalation.
Alarming discovery: 59 explosive devices found in a bus
According to information appearing in the international press, the Mexican authorities discovered no less than 59 explosive devices in a bus carrying demonstrators to the capital.
The information was confirmed by Mexico's Interior Ministry less than 48 hours before the opening match of the World Cup. The deputy minister of the interior, Arturo Medina, sent a firm message.
“We support peaceful demonstrations, but public safety cannot be jeopardized by the use of explosive devices during protests.”
It's not just the teachers who are protesting
The authorities fear that the demonstrations could intensify in the coming days. In addition to the teachers' union, relatives of the roughly 130,000 missing people in Mexico have announced that they will take advantage of the global attention generated by the World Cup to organize their own protests.
Farmers and transporters have also announced roadblocks and demonstrations in several areas of the country. Tense situations also existed in Los Angeles, one of the tournament's host cities.
Employees at the SoFi Stadium, including bartenders, waiters and chefs, had threatened to go on strike ahead of the competition. However, the conflict was extinguished at the last moment, after the unions and employers reached an agreement on wages and working conditions.
Mexico – South Africa opens the World Cup
Despite the tensions of the last few days, the organizers are continuing preparations for the inaugural match of the World Cup.
The match between Mexico and South Africa is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, at the legendary Azteca Stadium, one of the most famous arenas in the history of world football.
The 2026 edition is the first World Cup with 48 participating teams and will be hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
