The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now just days away, but Mexico City is far from being in a festive mood.
Coordinated protests by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) have intensified in the capital. The situation has escalated to the point that FIFA has been forced to cancel in-person training for its volunteers at the main Zócalo Fan Fest and move it to a virtual format exclusively due to security concerns.
The in-person sessions for the volunteers were scheduled for Thursday and Friday. The FIFA message to the volunteers was clear: “For safety reasons and to avoid putting anyone at risk, we have decided to hold these sessions virtually”.
This decision is a significant blow to the tournament’s preparations, signaling that the global sporting event cannot proceed as planned without addressing the social unrest in the host country.
The Zócalo Fan Fest is the flagship fan zone for all of Mexico. This massive complex in the nation’s central square is expected to be the primary gathering point for fans, with an anticipated capacity of up to 60,000 people during match days. The site is designed to feature live music, local gastronomy, and large screens broadcasting the games.
This sprawling installation has effectively become the physical and symbolic front line of the conflict. For the CNTE, it is a highly visible target for demonstrating its grievances against the government.
The week’s events began with the CNTE significantly escalating its protest tactics. On Tuesday, teachers blocked major avenues in Mexico City, including Paseo de la Reforma and Circuito Interior, causing severe traffic chaos.
The most symbolic act of defiance was the toppling and vandalism of several large World Cup statues of soccer players.
Videos of hooded individuals toppling 5-meter-high plastic effigies with ropes circulated widely online. The protesters scrawled a potent message on the fallen figures: “If there is no solution, the ball will not roll”.
The underlying demands center on a national salary dispute. The teachers are calling for a significant wage increase and the reversal of a new pension law, with some leaders demanding a 100% salary increase. The union has threatened to disrupt the World Cup, promising to bring “millions” of teachers to the capital to protest.
The government has confirmed it is in dialogue with the CNTE to seek a resolution. However, with the opening match less than two weeks away, security is now a critical concern. The cancellation of the volunteer training is a clear message that the path to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City is proving to be much more turbulent than anyone anticipated.