Greenpeace, 100+ NGOs demand Mexico prioritize social issues over World Cup 2026 spending

As Mexico prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup, a coalition of over 100 civil society organizations has demanded that the government prioritize pressing national issues. Activists from groups including Greenpeace Mexico and Amnesty International unfurled a 21-meter banner at the Estela de Luz monument in Mexico City, bearing the message "This is also at stake. The world is watching."

The organizations are calling on President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration to address critical problems such as the more than 133,000 missing persons, mass deportations, forced displacement, and the ongoing environmental crisis. They argue these issues require urgent attention, especially in light of the substantial investments being made for the World Cup.

Activists specifically criticized the allocation of public funds, noting that billions of pesos are earmarked for World Cup infrastructure and security, including an estimated 2 billion pesos for mobility projects and the deployment of 100,000 security personnel. They highlighted that these resources could be better used to address the urgent needs of families searching for missing loved ones and to protect women involved in these searches, who often face risks and aggression.

The groups also denounced the migration crackdowns by Mexican and U.S. authorities, calling for the protection and inclusion of over 190,000 deported Mexicans and approximately 13,000 individuals of other nationalities recently returned to Mexico. The protest underscores a growing tension between the country's focus on major international events and the persistent human rights and environmental challenges it faces.

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This is also at stake. The world is watching.