Torch March Called for Eve of World Cup Inauguration, Ending at Estadio Azteca

A "Torch March" is planned for June 10 in Mexico City, a day before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the capital. Student, social, and human rights organizations are organizing the march, which will begin at a light rail station and conclude at the Estadio Azteca.

The protest is part of commemorations for the 54th anniversary of the June 10, 1971 repression, known as the "Halconazo." It is also one of several demonstrations planned in the city during the week leading up to the international tournament.

Participating groups include student collectives, families of the 43 disappeared students from Ayotzinapa, and organizations supporting the demands of the National Union of Education Workers (CNTE). Organizers aim to keep demands for truth and justice regarding the 1971 events alive and to highlight social issues, including the Ayotzinapa case and the right to protest.

The march is scheduled for the southern part of Mexico City, near the Estadio Azteca, which will host the World Cup's opening match. The stadium is accessible via the Estadio Azteca light rail station. In recent days, CNTE members have indicated they will participate in various protests during the World Cup week, seeking to publicize their demands to international visitors and media. Students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School also announced mobilization activities in Mexico City from June 8 to 12, coinciding with protests by dissident teachers and other social groups.