As Mexico prepares for the upcoming World Cup, authorities are enhancing police and security measures around the Zocalo plaza in Mexico City to ensure the World Cup Fan Fest proceeds smoothly amidst escalating social unrest and public demonstrations.
The historic heart of the city, which includes significant sites like the Catedral Metropolitana and the ancient Templo Mayor, is currently under tight lockdown. However, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is determined to keep Zocalo accessible throughout the tournament.
Local reports indicate that as many as 100,000 attendees are anticipated at the official FIFA Fan Fest during Mexico’s opening match against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium next Thursday, prompting concerns over security in a city facing a wave of protests.
This week, discontent has surfaced among various groups, including teachers, judges, animal rights advocates, and families of the 130,000 missing persons in Mexico, who have all participated in demonstrations across the capital.
On Friday, teachers from the CNTE union, advocating for improved working conditions, caused significant traffic disruptions. Meanwhile, other protestors infiltrated government offices and staged a football match on a street that had been blockaded.
Earlier, riot police used tear gas against a group of protesting teachers who breached barriers at Zocalo while preparations for the Fan Fest were underway.
Teachers’ unions have called for the suspension of the Fan Fest. Pedro Hernandez Morales from CNTE stated to Al Jazeera,
“The ball will not roll if our demands are not met.”
Despite the protests, the government remains steadfast in its position. Activist groups have criticized Sheinbaum’s administration for prioritizing the World Cup over pressing social issues, notably the rising cost of living exacerbated by international tourism, and ongoing protests are expected to persist throughout the tournament.
In a show of support for the event, Sheinbaum plans to personally attend the opening match at the Zocalo Fan Fest, having donated her ticket to Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old Indigenous woman from Veracruz.
