Authorities deployed hundreds of police to Benito Juárez International Airport and increased security around the Azteca Stadium ahead of the World Cup opening amid threats of teacher protests. A teachers' union has maintained a protest camp in the Zócalo, putting a planned fan festival for up to 80,000 people in doubt. President Claudia Sheinbaum said 18 alternative viewing venues are available if the Zócalo cannot be used, and city officials will clarify plans before the opening match.
Mexico City Mobilises Hundreds of Police at Airport and Azteca Ahead of World Cup Opening
Members of the police force's Grenadier Corps wait outside a hotel in the Tlalpan borough of Mexico City, Mexico, where striking teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) are sheltering. (is associated with: «Hundreds of police deployed in Mexico City ahead of World Cup opening») Nadia Tecuapetla/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Hundreds of police were deployed to Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport and the area around the Azteca Stadium as authorities boosted security ahead of the football World Cup opening, amid threats of teacher-led protests on the night of the tournament's kick-off.
Heightened Security at Key Venues
Videos shown by local media on Wednesday captured officers in helmets carrying shields and batons stationed both inside the airport terminal and on its approaches. The airport warned that access would be limited to passengers with boarding passes and essential companions, and urged travellers to arrive early because of the risk of demonstrations in the area.
Security has also been tightened around the Azteca Stadium, which will host Mexico's opening match against South Africa on Thursday following the tournament's opening ceremony.
Uncertainty Over Zócalo Fan Festival
A planned fan festival in Mexico City's central Zócalo remains uncertain. A radical teachers' union has maintained a protest camp there and has organised roadblocks and demonstrations across the capital, demanding repeal of a 2007 pension law that the government says cannot be reversed. Organisers expect up to 80,000 people to gather in the square if the event goes ahead.
"If the Zócalo is not available for the opening ceremony for any reason, there are 18 venues where the event can be watched free of charge," President Claudia Sheinbaum said.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said officials would provide details later on how the fan festival would be managed and whether the Zócalo would be used. Authorities continue to weigh public-safety considerations as they finalise arrangements.
Context
This is the third time Mexico has hosted the men’s football World Cup; the 2026 tournament is being staged jointly with the United States and Canada. Mexico City will host five matches, while Monterrey and Guadalajara are each scheduled to stage four games.
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