Protesters Storm Education Ministry Ahead of World Cup; Mexican President Vows Not to Fall for Trap
Days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, protesters in Mexico stormed the Education Ministry headquarters in the capital. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated she would not fall for the 'trap' of suppressing the demonstrations and called for dialogue with striking teachers demanding higher wages.
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- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 11:56
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(Mexico City, 3rd, Central News Agency) Days before the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexican protesters used lampposts as battering rams to storm the headquarters of the Ministry of Education in the capital on Tuesday. President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that she would not 'fall for the trap' of suppressing the protests.
According to AFP, a group that split from the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers' union held a large-scale demonstration on the eve of the world's biggest football event. This World Cup will kick off on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Sources from the stormed Ministry of Education said protesters destroyed a guard booth and smashed windows. Footage broadcast by Mexican television showed a small fire had broken out.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sheinbaum stated she would not 'fall for the trap' of suppressing protests just days before the World Cup. This edition of the World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
'What they want is to force us to resort to repression during the World Cup preparations,' she said at her daily press conference, vowing she would not do so.
On Monday, protesting teachers toppled a large football player statue on a major avenue in the capital and threatened to hold demonstrations during the World Cup if the government did not respond to their labor demands.
On Sunday, police fired tear gas at a group of teachers to prevent them from entering the Zocalo plaza in the city center, where the venue for the 2026 World Cup 'Fan Festival' was being set up. However, authorities did not intervene when protesters toppled the 5-meter-tall statue on Monday.
Sheinbaum called for dialogue with the protesters, who are demanding higher wages and the abolition of a pension law. Her government has reached an agreement with the CNTE to raise salaries by 9%, a far cry from the 100% pay raise demanded by educators with different views.
The starting monthly salary for a public school teacher in Mexico is equivalent to approximately US$967 (about NT$30,692). (Translation by Zhang Xiaowen) 1150604
According to AFP, a group that split from the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers' union held a large-scale demonstration on the eve of the world's biggest football event. This World Cup will kick off on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Sources from the stormed Ministry of Education said protesters destroyed a guard booth and smashed windows. Footage broadcast by Mexican television showed a small fire had broken out.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sheinbaum stated she would not 'fall for the trap' of suppressing protests just days before the World Cup. This edition of the World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
'What they want is to force us to resort to repression during the World Cup preparations,' she said at her daily press conference, vowing she would not do so.
On Monday, protesting teachers toppled a large football player statue on a major avenue in the capital and threatened to hold demonstrations during the World Cup if the government did not respond to their labor demands.
On Sunday, police fired tear gas at a group of teachers to prevent them from entering the Zocalo plaza in the city center, where the venue for the 2026 World Cup 'Fan Festival' was being set up. However, authorities did not intervene when protesters toppled the 5-meter-tall statue on Monday.
Sheinbaum called for dialogue with the protesters, who are demanding higher wages and the abolition of a pension law. Her government has reached an agreement with the CNTE to raise salaries by 9%, a far cry from the 100% pay raise demanded by educators with different views.
The starting monthly salary for a public school teacher in Mexico is equivalent to approximately US$967 (about NT$30,692). (Translation by Zhang Xiaowen) 1150604