Mexico City has not allowed the World Cup to overshadow its local issues.
As the tournament began, some residents used the global spotlight to ensure visiting media saw more than just flags, fan zones and football shirts. For them, Mexico’s opener was also a chance to draw attention to problems that existed long before the first whistle.
That is why the celebrations around Estadio Azteca stood in such sharp contrast. While the country prepared to welcome the world, protesters were determined to show what they believe the world also needs to see.
Protests bring missing people and teachers into focus
One of the most striking demonstrations centred on the Angel of Independence, where portraits of missing people were placed around the monument.
Families searching for loved ones handed out leaflets in Spanish and English, saying they were looking for more than 133,000 missing people. Their message was direct: the World Cup had returned to the country, but their relatives had not.
According to the BBC, relatives and volunteers wanted visitors to understand a disappearance crisis that many Mexicans say touches almost every community.
Teachers were also out in the build-up, marching along Calzada de Tlalpan toward the Azteca area. Their demands included better pay and working conditions, with some chants translated into English so tourists could understand, while public-sector workers were also among those marching.
Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa delivered a beautiful spectacle at Estadio Azteca and gave the hosts the perfect sporting start. Still, this result is not expected to solve social tension.
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