Q24N — As one of the host countries for the 2026 World Cup, Mexico has not been immune to problems and protests leading up to the start of the competition, which kicked off in the Mexican capital on June 11.
Various social movements, including teachers, families of some of the more than 130,000 missing persons, and other social causes, have mobilized to protest just days before the World Cup.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) has held several demonstrations in Mexico City in recent days, demanding better working conditions.
The protests resulted in the toppling of soccer player figures that had been placed around the city to celebrate the World Cup, while another demonstration brought traffic to a standstill by playing a soccer match on one of the capital’s main avenues.
Meanwhile, the families of the disappeared have plastered their faces all over the city and painted graffiti demanding answers from authorities, calling Mexico “champion of disappearances.”
Another cause for concern among many Mexican businesses is the threat of potential fines for rebroadcasting World Cup matches without the proper permits.
In Mexico, the Televisa network acquired the broadcasting rights for the World Cup, so businesses must contact the company through its subsidiaries Izzi Negocios or Sky Business to obtain a commercial permit.
The argument is that licenses for platforms and other broadcasting media are private, so showing them to the public in bars and restaurants could result in sanctions from the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI).
“If they want, we’ll leave Mexico so they can have their World Cup,” says one comment from Mexicans on social media, where many assert that this will not be a World Cup for the people.