Protesters in Mexico stormed a government building on Wednesday, days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11 at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium. President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed she would not "fall into the trap" of repressing demonstrations as the country prepares to host the world's biggest football tournament alongside the United States and Canada.
Why are teachers protesting in Mexico before the World Cup?
Teachers from the dissident CNTE union are demanding a 100 percent salary increase and the repeal of a pension law. The government has offered a nine-percent raise, far short of that figure.
Mexico's public school teachers earn a starting gross wage equivalent to around US $967 per month.
What happened at the education ministry in Mexico City?
Protesters used streetlight poles as battering rams to force their way into the education ministry's headquarters in the capital on Wednesday. Sources from the department said demonstrators vandalized a guard booth and shattered windows. Mexican television broadcast images showing a small fire at the site.
How has President Sheinbaum responded to the protests?
Sheinbaum said at her daily press conference that she would not resort to repression ahead of the World Cup opener. "They want us to resort to repression in the lead-up to the World Cup," she said, vowing not to do so. She has called for dialogue with the union while her administration has agreed to the nine-percent salary increase.
What other disruptions have the teachers caused this week?
On Tuesday, protesting teachers toppled five-meter-tall statues of football players on the capital's main promenade and threatened further disruptions during the tournament. On Monday, police teargassed a group of teachers to prevent them from reaching the central Zocalo square, where a fan festival for the 2026 World Cup is under construction. Authorities did not intervene on Tuesday when the statues were brought down.
