The soccer World Cup begins. The opening match in Mexico, with a large presence of law enforcement and the threat of street protests
Kick-off of the first of the 104 matches of this unusual World Cup, Mexico – South Africa, will take place at 1:00 p.m. local time (10:00 p.m. Romanian time) at the mythical Azteca stadium, which can accommodate 80,824 spectators, writes AFP, quoted by Agerpres.
Arena Azteca will host the third opening match of a world championship, a record, after the 1970 and 1986 editions. The match will be preceded by a ceremony that will start at 11:30 local time and will combine music, dance and arts typical of Mexican culture. The festivities will bring together artists such as Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, Spanish-Mexican singer Belinda and Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez.
The first fans arrived at the stadium gates as early as 6:30 in the morning, dressed in their national team jerseys, some with charro hats, indigenous hairstyles and flags. They waited patiently in the sun of the Mexican capital, drinking coffee.
Extensive deployment of law enforcement
Hundreds of members of the National Guard – a militarized police force – and riot police are protecting the entrances and surrounding areas of the Azteca stadium. A mounted police team was also deployed.
“We just want to soak in the atmosphere and discover all the activities, the music and the entertainment,” Sheree Toomes, a Scotland fan, told AFP, admitting she was still scared by the large police presence. “The police, the army, you don't see that in Britain,” she said.
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The days leading up to the opening of the World Cup were marked by protests by striking teachers, who blocked roads and led the government to close with metal barriers access to the Zocalo, the large central square, where a fan zone with a capacity of 55,000 spectators is installed. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, however, said everything was “under control” and announced that the area would be open on Thursday, despite the situation.
“Let's put politics aside”
On the Zocalo, hundreds of fans had been queuing since morning to enter the fan festival.
“I came to see the Mexican team, to support them, to be there to encourage the national team,” Luis Enrique Huerta, a 22-year-old waiter, told AFP. “I'm a bit scared (because of the protests), but today we have to put politics aside and focus on the 90 minutes that is football,” he added.
Rafael Hernandez, a 29-year-old supporter waving a Mexican flag, says that “the attitude of the people, what emanates from the surroundings, creates a World Cup atmosphere that conveys hunger and thirst for victory, that's the only important thing.”
Emilio Hernandez, his cousin, also 29, believes “there are good reasons to be angry and disappointed, but at the same time this event has nothing to do with that, so hopefully we can still enjoy it.”
