Just ahead of the World Cup kickoff, host nation Mexico finds itself embroiled in a political struggle. Striking educators have taken over the primary fan zone and have vowed to keep up their demonstrations.
As Mexico City gets ready to host the World Cup’s opening match on Thursday, teachers have committed to persisting with their protests for higher wages and improved working conditions in the vicinity of the capital’s renowned Estadio Azteca (Aztec Stadium). This is part of a nationwide strike announced on June 1 by the CNTE education workers’ union, which is pushing for a 100% salary increase.
Over the past week, thousands of teachers have taken control of the iconic Zocalo, or main square, blocked intersections, and marched through the capital’s streets. Media reports indicate that security forces used tear gas against teachers attempting to occupy the Education Ministry.
On the Paseo de la Reforma (Promenade of the Reform), teachers tore down meter-high statues of soccer stars that had been set up ahead of the World Cup, ripping the jerseys off the plastic figures and setting them ablaze.
"Without a solution, the ball won't roll," the teachers wrote on some of the toppled statues.
Mexican teachers demanding higher pay to offset inflation costs
The teachers are protesting the education and pension policies of Claudia Sheinbaum, who was elected president with broad labor support as the successor to Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador, founder of the anti-neoliberal National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party. In May 2025, Sheinbaum’s administration announced a 10% pay increase for teachers by September 2026 — a raise the unions have dismissed as completely insufficient.
Salaries vary significantly by region and educational level. Early-career teachers in Mexico’s public schools earn between 8,000 and 14,000 pesos (€390-690/$460-800) per month.
The rival SNTE teachers union, which has historically maintained close ties with Mexico’s various governing parties, is advocating for a 13% raise in 2026 to address rising inflation costs.
Protests in the global spotlight
By staging protests at the World Cup venue, the CNTE is seeking to capitalize on the national and international attention focused on Mexico City. As one of the tournament’s three co-hosts, alongside the United States and Canada, Mexico anticipates roughly 5 million international tourists in June and July.
According to the Mexico City administration, the Zocalo can hold up to 55,000 people for public screenings — though thousands more may try to squeeze in when the national team plays. The teachers’ protest camp threatens to disrupt these plans. The global football governing body, FIFA, has already canceled a training session for World Cup volunteers on the square.
Sheinbaum won't 'fall for provocations'
During her daily press conference, Sheinbaum accused the teachers of attempting to provoke the government while the international spotlight is on Mexico, but also dismissed the idea of a heavy-handed crackdown.
"We aren't going to fall for provocations," Sheinbaum stated.
Instead, her administration is engaging in negotiations with the teachers. The 100% raise has been ruled out as "incompatible with the federal budget." The most likely compromise between the government and the teachers would involve a package combining salary increases with pension boosts.
Historic center swarming with protesters
Mexico City’s chamber of commerce has reported that the disruptions to business in the Zocalo area and the blocking of traffic on major streets and routes to and from the airport have cost the private sector nearly €20 million. Some Mexico City residents who oppose the protests have expressed on social media that they feel held hostage by the teachers.
The government has not blamed the union or the majority of teachers for the damage and destruction caused by affiliated groups. "There was a lot of provocation yesterday," Sheinbaum said after the march. "The truth is that I don’t believe it was teachers who were behind the provocation."
Many media outlets in Mexico have defended the protests as a legitimate form of social expression. The right-wing press, however, has criticized the teachers. In his column for the newspaper Milenio, journalist Hector Aguilar Camin accused the teachers of a "pedagogy of violence." He argued that the Morena party bore some responsibility because it had empowered the CNTE union in its efforts to secure teachers’ votes.
This article was originally published in German.