Mexico City World Cup Opening Day Sees 19 Arrests, 11 Police Injured

The opening day of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City was marred by disturbances, leading to 19 arrests and 11 police officers sustaining injuries. The clashes erupted near the Mexico City Stadium, where the national team faced South Africa. Authorities reported that a group of masked individuals threw petards, stones, and other objects at the police.

During the pre-match security operations, four individuals were detained near the stadium for possessing counterfeit access passes. The Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) stated that eight people were arrested during the subsequent confrontations, with four more detained for public order offenses. While initially detained, all were later released.

Eleven police officers were injured in the unrest, with six requiring hospitalization for their injuries. Security was also heightened at the Fan Fest in the Zócalo, where 11,000 officers were present. There, one man and two women were arrested, and 36 stolen mobile phones were recovered from attendees.

The inauguration, which Mexico is co-hosting with the United States and Canada, also saw the absence of President Claudia Sheinbaum from the stadium. Various groups, including teachers and families of the disappeared, organized demonstrations outside the security perimeter. The next match in Mexico is scheduled for Sunday in Monterrey, featuring Sweden against Tunisia.