World Cup 2026: Will violence and protests test Mexico’s cohost status?
Key takeaways
- Fans and rights groups have raised safety concerns in Mexico, which opens the FIFA World Cup on June 11.
- The World Cup 2026 opens in Mexico City on June 11, with the home team taking on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.
- Here’s what’s happened in Mexico in the months leading up to the World Cup:
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Fans and rights groups have raised safety concerns in Mexico, which opens the FIFA World Cup on June 11.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Security forces in Mexico have been undergoing training, led by Spain's National Police riot units ahead of the World Cup [Ulises Ruiz/AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 18 May 202618 May 2026The ongoing scrutiny of the United States as World Cup cohost, and FIFA’s role as tournament organiser, has overshadowed the growing list of security concerns and protests in Mexico where the tournament opener kicks off next month.
The World Cup 2026 opens in Mexico City on June 11, with the home team taking on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. But football fans are wary of recent incidents of violence and frequent protests in tournament host cities across Mexico.