Dozens of protesters and police clashed this Thursday (11) outside the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City, while the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, between Mexico and South Africa, takes place there.
Groups of teachers, family members of the missing and students gathered early on Thursday around the stadium, but encountered a strong police presence.
A group of protesters demanding justice for missing people removed some barriers that protected the perimeter of the stadium and exchanged punches with agents guarding the site.
Armed with sticks and bats, a handful of young people broke the windows of police vehicles while in the background you could see Azteca, where minutes before Mexico scored the first goal of the World Cup.
The police fired tear gas to try to disperse the protesters, who were running around the sports giant. Full-dressed police officers also tried to contain the protesters.
The protests carried out since last week by a dissident group from the education union have cast doubt on the opening of FIFA’s “Fan Fest”, located in the emblematic Zócalo square, where the presidential palace is also located. Protesters demand a salary increase and the repeal of a pension law, considered unfeasible by Claudia Sheinbaum’s government.
But tens of thousands of fans finally managed to enter the square amid jostling and disorganization.
