Just before kick-off of Mexico's opening game against South Africa in the World Cup tournament, ticketless fans and protesters attempted to gain access to the Azteca Stadium resulting in violent unrest.
The protesters hurled rocks and bottles at the police outside gate eight, leading to a dozens of arrests.
According to a report in The Guardian, while Mexico City police have been grappling with protests from teachers, retired judges and families of the country’s 130,000 disappeared all week in the buildup to the tournament, the disorder at the stadium did not appear to be politically motivated.
The report said that hooded men appeared intent on charging the gate-hurling bricks, petrol bombs and other missiles, which led to several police officers requiring medical treatment.
“Nearly 200 hooded individuals broke away from two groups of around 800 protesters, but the situation was brought under control by the Metropolitan police,” a spokesperson for the secretary of citizen security in Mexico was quoted as saying by the report.
The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium was overshadowed by violent unrest when approximately 200 hooded protesters broke away from larger demonstrations and attempted to force their way through stadium gates. Protesters hurled rocks, flares, and Molotov cocktails at security forces, prompting police to respond with tear gas, mounted units, and riot shields. The clashes resulted in injuries to several officers, damage to vehicles, and multiple fires in the surrounding area. Dozens of arrests were reported before authorities regained control and restored order during the match, another report said.
Mexico, which is jointly hosting the soccer tournament with the US and Canada, got off to a winning start by beating South Africa 2-0 in a match that also produced three red cards.
The World Cup, according to a recent AP report, comes at a time when Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is walking a political tightrope, navigating a deteriorating relationship with the US in the lead-up to July trade negotiations, political scandals and security concerns following a burst of violence in a host city in February.
Pressure has only continued to mount as guests flood into Mexico City, and the government has faced a crescendo of criticisms by protesters and residents who say authorities have prioritized the competition over pressing social needs in the Latin American nation.
Claudia Sheinbaum did not attend the country's opening game as she gave her ticket away to a 21-year-old lottery winner.
Sheinbaum donated her ticket No. 00001 to Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old Indigenous woman from the eastern state of Veracruz. Cervantes Cuaquehua was selected by a jury after winning a contest for her ball-handling skills.
