Mexico City hosts World Cup opening amid protests and last-minute work

Mexico City is gearing up to host the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, the most expensive and largest ever held, but the preparations are shadowed by protests and last-minute construction. Graffiti demanding a boycott of the World Cup, attributed to the CNTE teachers' union, has appeared on walls and advertising along Calzada de Tlalpan, a major avenue leading to the iconic Azteca Stadium. While the city showcases renovated metro stations, newly painted pedestrian crossings, and floral displays, a sense of apathy among residents is palpable. Many feel the country is more of a host for the opening festivities and a few matches rather than fully embracing the global event. The Azteca Stadium is set to become the first to host three World Cups. Vendors are selling national team jerseys in key areas like El Zócalo and Paseo de la Reforma, anticipating the stadium's 80,000 seats being filled. Mexicans are proud to host the tournament for the third time and hopeful for their national team's performance, despite the sport's immense popularity not translating into consistent World Cup success. However, protests by teachers from the interior of the country threaten to disrupt the opening ceremony. Authorities plan to establish a security perimeter of approximately two kilometers around the stadium to contain demonstrations by the CNTE union, which has erected barriers to prevent access. President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that the opening ceremony would proceed peacefully.