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Protesters have warned they could stage demonstrations during the World Cup if the government fails to meet their labor demands.
A World Cup statue, with graffiti that reads in Spanish, “The National Educational Workers Coordination lives” lies sideways during a teachers’ protest. (AP Photo)
Protesters stormed a government building in Mexico on Wednesday – days before the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup – even as President Claudia Sheinbaum insists she will not “fall into the trap” of repressing demonstrations.
A faction of the CNTE teachers’ union has been staging large-scale protests ahead of the world’s biggest football tournament, which kicks off on June 11 at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.
Sheinbaum has maintained her stance over holding dialogue with the demonstrators, who are demanding higher wages and the repeal of a pension law. Her administration has agreed with the CNTE on a nine-percent salary increase, well short of the 100 percent raise sought by the dissident teachers.
The starting monthly gross salary for a Mexican public school teacher is equivalent to approximately US$967.
On Wednesday, demonstrators used streetlight poles as makeshift battering rams to force their way into the headquarters of the Education Ministry in the capital.
Sources within the ministry said protesters vandalized a guard booth and smashed windows. Footage broadcast on Mexican television also showed a small fire at the site.
Earlier in the day, Sheinbaum said she would not “fall into the trap” of cracking down on protests in the lead-up to the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
“They want us to resort to repression in the lead-up to the World Cup,” she said during her daily press conference, adding that her government would not do so.
Tensions have escalated this week. On Tuesday, protesting teachers toppled towering football player statues along the capital’s main promenade and warned they could stage demonstrations during the World Cup if the government fails to meet their labor demands.
The day before, police used tear gas against a group of teachers attempting to reach the central Zocalo square, where the 2026 World Cup “Fan Fest” is under construction.
However, authorities did not intervene on Tuesday when protesters brought down the five-meter-tall statues.
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Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
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