World Cup fever grips Mexico City but protests and political tensions cloud the opening

Mexico City is set to stage the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony and the tournament’s first match — Mexico vs South Africa — but the celebrations are arriving against a backdrop of deepening social unrest and political pressure on President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The country is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Canada, with matches also scheduled in Guadalajara and Monterrey. FIFA branding, giant soccer balls, and bright orange marigold flowers line the streets of all three cities, and fans have been filling Mexico City’s boulevards, photographing landmarks and wearing their national colours. The Mexican Soccer Federation projects the tournament will generate $3 billion for hotels, restaurants, and sports venues.

Yet the mood is far from uncomplicated. Sheinbaum is simultaneously managing a strained relationship with the United States ahead of July trade negotiations, a string of political scandals, and lingering security anxieties following a wave of violence that paralysed Guadalajara in February. More than 100,000 soldiers, sailors, National Guard members, and police officers are expected to be deployed across the three host cities.

Protesters and residents have grown increasingly vocal, arguing that the government has prioritised the global tournament over the country’s more urgent social needs. Carlos Pérez Ricart, a Mexican political analyst, put it plainly: “Mexico wants to project an image to the world that doesn’t exactly square with reality. The World Cup is putting the president in a vulnerable situation … The government is under extreme pressure.”

The opening ceremony is expected to draw a vast global audience, with Colombian superstar Shakira among the performers scheduled to appear. If the event passes without incident, Pérez Ricart suggested it could serve as a significant moment for Sheinbaum, demonstrating to the world that Mexico is “modern and capable of organizing high impact events.”

The tension between spectacle and social reality will define how Mexico’s World Cup moment is ultimately remembered — both at home and abroad.