Just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, a call for a massive protest march involving activists, groups of mothers searching for missing relatives, teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), transport workers, farmers, retirees, and other organizations has been circulating on social media.
According to the announcement, which has been widely shared online, the march is planned for Thursday, June 11, the same day that the tournament officially begins in Mexico City with the opening ceremony and the match between Mexico and South Africa.
The event, referred to as a “National Peaceful Mega-Demonstration,” is expected to begin at several locations throughout Mexico City, with participants converging on Mexico City Stadium (formerly known as Estadio Azteca).
So far, the call to protest has been shared by activists, internet users, businesspeople, opinion leaders, media outlets, influencers, and members of the general public.
The organizers encourage participants to attend peacefully while wearing white shirts, record everything that happens to avoid misunderstandings and violence, avoid responding to provocations, and highlight the problems facing Mexico, arguing that the country is “not celebrating the World Cup” but rather “demanding justice.”
There is currently no officially established start time. Some announcements call for participants to gather at 1:00 p.m., the scheduled kickoff time for the Mexico vs. South Africa match, while others call for participation earlier in the morning before the opening ceremony, which is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
The announced gathering points and areas where traffic disruptions are expected include:
- Search Mothers’ Collectives: Insurgentes Avenue (Olympic Stadium)
- Education Workers: Periférico Ring Road (San Jerónimo)
- PEMEX and CFE Retirees: Periférico Ring Road (Picacho Hospital)
- Transportation Organizations: Periférico Ring Road (Vaqueritos)
- Farmers’ Organizations: Calzada de Tlalpan (División del Norte)
- Healthcare Workers: Avenida del Imán (Parque Cantera)
- General Collectives: Avenida Santa Úrsula (Parque Cantera)
- Final Destination: Banorte Stadium (Estadio Azteca)
At this time, several organizations have not officially confirmed their participation. Transportation groups associated with the National Transport Alliance (ANTAC) have not issued an official statement regarding the June 11 demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the CNTE continues its protest activities in Mexico City, maintaining encampments near the city’s main square for more than two weeks while seeking an agreement with President Claudia Sheinbaum regarding its demands, including the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law.
Groups of mothers searching for missing relatives have also been demonstrating in recent days, demanding greater support in locating disappeared family members.
A few days ago, they organized roadblocks during the World Cup Trophy Tour in the Iztacalco district. Their demonstrations are expected to continue throughout the tournament, and relatives of the 43 missing Ayotzinapa students are also expected to join the mobilizations.
Source: viveusa
