Activists accuse Mexico City of attempting to 'erase' water struggle near stadium

Activists and residents surrounding the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City are accusing authorities of attempting to silence their demands for water access and territorial defense by removing a community mural. The artwork, installed near the venue for the 2026 World Cup, was taken down just days after its creation, which activists say violates an agreement with city officials.

Members of the Asamblea Antimundialista (Anti-World Cup Assembly) held a press conference to denounce what they call a "visual erasure" of protests linked to the tournament's organization in the southern part of the capital. They claim that not only the mural but also other artistic interventions, street slogans, and even missing persons' posters have been removed from public spaces.

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Every mural we make in this space is removed in less than 24 hours.

Natalia Lara, an assembly member, stated that "Every mural we create in this space is removed in less than 24 hours." She asserted that collectives had an understanding with city authorities for the mural to remain for at least five days, but it was removed before the World Cup's opening match on June 11, breaking the agreed timeline.

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We want the return of this anti-mural that represents precisely the fight for water that is being made invisible.

The mural, a result of five months of community work involving over 60 artists, neighbors, and activists, featured messages in Spanish, Nahuatl, Maya, and other indigenous languages, along with slogans like "Out FIFA" and "Water is Life!" Its purpose was to highlight the demands of communities affected by water access issues and urban transformations associated with the World Cup. Residents report that water supply and other services have been strained since the World Cup construction began, a problem that persists even with the tournament underway, while the stadium itself is supplied by a well.

"We want the return of this anti-mural that represents precisely the fight for water that is being made invisible," Lara stated, adding, "This is an act of erasure." Lágrimas Lacrimógenas, an artist involved in the mural, echoed this sentiment. The Asamblea Antimundialista, formed in 2025, opposes transformations driven by the World Cup, citing gentrification, evictions, rising housing costs, water access issues, and the impact on local communities. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, their protests coincided with increased security operations around the venue, leading the collectives to report restrictions on protest and alleged acts of repression, which authorities deny.

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This is an act of erasure.