Protests in Mexico block road to Azteca Stadium ahead of World Cup

[p]As football fans flood into tournament co-hosts the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/zmqYSe9a/"]United States[/a], Canada, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/Ey595e5a/"]Mexico[/a], the North American country is grappling with chaotic teacher protests in its capital.[/p][p]Tuesday's protest, led by a breakaway group of the CNTE teachers union, follows a week of demonstrations that President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a[b] "provocation."[/b][/p][p][b]"As if to say, 'Look at how bad the situation is in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a],'"[/b] she told a press conference.[/p][embed guid="c8a8ad91-3732-49e8-8d8f-5529a2571429" url="https://x.com/diariobasta/status/2064406544142229677?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Azteca stadium will host the World Cup's first game - pitting Mexico against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/UufEyQ1M/"]South Africa[/a] - on Thursday, with a vast global TV audience set to tune in for the opening ceremony and the match.[/p][p]Authorities have deployed thousands of officers and set up concrete barriers surrounding the venue to block protests.[/p][p][b]"We intend to reach the stadium,"[/b] demonstrator Angel Villalobos told AFP on Tuesday.[b] "The government has given some responses, but they don't help; they don't satisfy."[/b][/p][p]Sheinbaum said earlier that the opening match was[b] "guaranteed,"[/b] though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.[/p][p]Her government has favored dialogue with the protesting teachers, but to no avail.[/p][p][b]"We're going to continue our struggle,"[/b] said Austreberto Flores, another protester looking to block Azteca Stadium.[/p][p]The CNTE teachers' union has been on strike since last week to demand a salary raise and the reversal of a pension law, which the government considers unfeasible.[/p][p]The teachers have also set up camp near the World Cup fan zone in Mexico City's Zocalo Square.[/p][p]Like on June 1st, police dispersed protesters in the area with rubber bullets and teargas.[/p][embed guid="d2952901-dd50-49b9-8c9d-a4d0d9204dd8" url="https://x.com/EcEnDirecto/status/2064482474621555114?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"They want to make it seem like there is mass social turmoil in Mexico, and that's not true,"[/b] Sheinbaum has said of the protests.[/p][p]The teachers have called for demonstrations on Thursday that will also include families of so-called [b]"disappeared"[/b] people, who are alleged to have been killed or kidnapped by Mexican authorities or criminal gangs.[/p][p]The 2026 edition of the world's biggest football extravaganza is the most logistically complex ever staged.[/p][p]Mexico is still rushing to complete renovations at subway stations and at its main airport ahead of the tournament.[/p]