Police Clash with Teachers Ahead of World Cup Fan Fest
Riot police deployed teargas against teachers marching toward Mexico City’s historic Zócalo plaza, just days before the site is scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup "Fan Fest." This marks the second confrontation between police and teachers within a week, with tensions expected to continue as the city prepares to host the opening match of the FIFA World Cup on 11 June.
“This event will have to be suspended,”Filiberto Frausto, a union leader, told AFP, which witnessed the police firing teargas on 1 June.
“A cause like ours should be far above – it’s far more important than a little bit of distraction and fun.”
Union Demands and Ongoing Protests
Teachers affiliated with the CNTE union have been protesting since mid-May, demanding salary increases and the reversal of pension reforms. Pedro Hernandez Morales, general secretary of CNTE section 9 in Mexico City, warned that if their demands are not met before the opening match,
“the ball will not roll.”
On Monday, demonstrators broke through one of the metal barriers blocking access to the Zócalo when riot police responded with teargas. AFP reported that one protester was struck by an unidentified projectile and was taken away with a head injury that caused bleeding.
Previous Incidents and Police Response
On 26 May, riot police blocked teachers from the Oaxaca-based section 22 of the CNTE union who attempted to enter the square to establish a protest camp.
“They repressed us, they hit us, they pushed us,”Francisca Pérez, a teacher from Oaxaca, told the EFE news agency.
Manuel López San Martín, a journalist from Azteca News, shared footage on social media showing police using fire extinguishers to disperse the protesting teachers.
Government Statement and Union Threats
In a joint statement, the Ministry of Public Education and the Ministry of the Interior indicated that the teachers’ union had been advised against gathering in the historic plaza due to ongoing construction, which posed safety risks.
The union has threatened to mobilize “millions” of teachers to Mexico City during the World Cup if the government does not meet their demands, signaling potential for further large-scale protests.
