Teachers Protest for Higher Wages at World Cup Fan Zone in Mexico City

The 2026 World Cup is set to kick off on the 11th. In Mexico City, one of the host cities, a large group of protesting teachers attempted to storm the fan zone at the Zocalo square in the city center. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, leading to chaotic scenes. According to AFP, the teachers, who are demanding higher wages and better benefits, broke through metal barricades at the entrance of the Zocalo. The square is located near government buildings and a giant screen intended to broadcast Mexico's opening match. Filiberto Frausto, a leader of the teachers' union, told AFP, "This event (the World Cup) must be paused. Our cause should be far more important than entertainment." The dissident teachers' union, the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), initiated the protest and threatened to mobilize "millions" of teachers to the capital during the tournament if the government does not meet their demands for wage hikes and the repeal of new pension laws. In 2025, the CNTE led a series of protests that paralyzed the capital, blocking major roads and even briefly closing the entrance to Mexico City's airport, the busiest in Latin America. A protest leader confirmed that at least two people were injured in the clash, one of whom suffered an eye injury. An AFP reporter witnessed one person being carried away with blood streaming from their head. Protesters threw firecrackers at the police in retaliation. Some struck the metal barricades with iron pipes, while others smashed the windows of police tow trucks and government buildings. The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum has reached an agreement with CNTE leadership for a 9% wage increase, but this figure remains far from the 100% hike demanded by the protesters. The starting salary for public school teachers in Mexico is approximately $967 USD per month (about 30,000 NTD).