Mexico City police teargas teachers’ protest 10 days before World Cup

Riot police deployed tear gas against teachers marching toward Mexico City’s Zócalo plaza, a key venue for the 2026 World Cup “Fan Fest,” just days before the event. This marked the second confrontation between authorities and educators in under a week, with tensions rising as the city braces for the opening match on 11 June.

“This event must be paused,” Filiberto Frausto, a union leader, declared to AFP, recounting the teargas use on 1 June. “A cause like ours deserves prioritization over trivial distractions.” The CNTE union, representing the protesting teachers, has demanded salary hikes and the repeal of contentious pension reforms. Their demonstrations escalated during a mid-May Teacher’s Day march, with organizers vowing to escalate actions during the World Cup.

Pedro Hernandez Morales, CNTE’s Mexico City secretary, warned that without addressing grievances before the opening game, “the ball won’t roll.” Demonstrators breached metal barriers near the Zócalo on Monday, prompting police to unleash tear gas. AFP reported one protester sustaining a head injury from an unidentified projectile, requiring medical attention.

On 26 May, Mexico News Daily documented riot police blocking Oaxaca-based CNTE members from establishing a protest camp. Another teacher, Francisca Pérez, described police forces as aggressively pushing and injuring demonstrators, per EFE. Journalist Manuel López San Martín shared social media footage showing officers misusing fire extinguishers to disperse crowds.

Government ministries jointly stated that ongoing construction at Zócalo made protests “dangerous,” though teachers dismissed this as insufficient. The union has threatened to mobilize “millions” of educators to the capital during the World Cup, risking a nationwide strike if demands remain unmet.

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