Thousands of protesters converged on an avenue leading to Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, blocking access to the venue just hours before the 2026 World Cup gets underway.

The demonstrations were led primarily by a breakaway faction of the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers union, with broader coalitions of activist groups joining in. Unrest has been building since early June, and the timing—days before the tournament's opening ceremony—appears deliberate.

A week of demonstrations

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum described the sustained protests as a "provocation," telling a press conference: "As if to say, 'Look at how bad the situation is in Mexico.'"

Organisers have already announced further demonstrations planned for Thursday, which are set to include families of disappeared persons—people alleged to have been killed or kidnapped by either Mexican authorities or criminal gangs.

Police cordon holds

Security forces prevented the crowd from reaching the stadium itself. Thousands of officers were deployed and concrete barriers erected around the Azteca ahead of the match, creating a wide perimeter that kept demonstrators at bay.

Protesters gathered in the surrounding streets for roughly three hours before dispersing. Mexico City's security chief Pablo Vazquez confirmed in a statement that the protest had remained peaceful throughout.

Eyes on the Azteca

The Azteca Stadium will host the opening match of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, when Mexico take on South Africa in front of a vast global television audience. The fixture will be preceded by the tournament's opening ceremony, marking the formal start of football's biggest event.