The opening day of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City left nineteen arrested for various reasons, as well as eleven police officers injured in clashes with protesters who went to the vicinity of the stadium where the Mexican team faced off against the South African team, as reported by the authorities this Friday.
Through a statement, the city’s Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) highlighted that the special operation for the opening of the World Cup included the participation of police officers and groups of volunteers, who were deployed near the Mexico City Stadium (formerly known as Azteca) and in the main centers of agglomeration.
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Before Thursday’s game, officers detained four people —two men and two women— near the sports venue because they were wearing “apocryphal access passes“.
Protests in Mexico during the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup. Photo:EFE
In the same area, demonstrations were recorded and there was a “group of masked people who threw firecrackers, stones and other objects at the police,” according to the SSC.
“Result of these actions, eight people were arrested and presented to the ministerial authorities. Besides, four more people were brought before the judge for effects on public roads. Subsequently, all were released“, detailed the information note.
As a result of these events, eleven police officers were injured, of which six were taken to hospitals to receive medical treatment for bruises.
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Likewise, in the ‘Fan Fest’ in the central Zócalo squarewhere they were deployed 11,000 security agentswere a man and two women arrestedwhile they recovered 36 stolen cell phones to the attendees.
Protests in Mexico during the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup. Photo:EFE
“In the next soccer matches held at the Mexico City Stadium, the Secretariat of Citizen Security will implement the special operation for the safety of all fans, in addition to maintaining surveillance and operational work in the 16 municipalities,” concluded the SSC.
The opening of the World Cup in Mexicowhich he organizes together with the United States and Canada, was marked by the absence of the president, Claudia Sheinbaumin the stadium and the mobilizations of different groupsas teachers or relatives of missing peoplewhich took place outside the security circle to access the sports venue.
He next match in the Latin American country it will be the Sunday in Monterrey (northeast) and will face Sweden against Tunisiaof the Group F of the initial phase.
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Protests in Mexico during the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup. Photo:EFE
