Mexico City police fire teargas at striking teachers ahead of World Cup
Mexico City police fire teargas at striking teachers just 10 days before the World Cup opening match, escalating tensions over pay and pensions.
Riot police clashed with hundreds of teachers from the CNTE union on 1 June as they attempted to march toward the Zócalo plaza, the site of the upcoming 2026 World Cup Fan Fest. Officers deployed teargas after protesters breached metal barriers blocking access to the historic square, where a giant screen will broadcast Mexico’s opening game on 11 June. The confrontation marks the second police crackdown on teachers in a week, with union leader Filiberto Frausto warning of further disruptions: *"This event will have to be suspended. A cause like ours should be far above a little bit of distraction and fun,"* he told AFP .
The protests, demanding salary increases and the reversal of pension reforms, have intensified as Mexico prepares to host the tournament. Teachers broke through security barriers near the government palace, where construction crews are finalizing infrastructure for the Fan Fest. Police actions have drawn criticism from union officials, who accuse authorities of prioritizing the World Cup over labor rights .
In Valencia, Spain, a separate teachers’ strike has spiraled into accusations of vandalism and intimidation. Education officials allege unions are pressuring non-striking teachers, with regional education chief José Llorca accusing them of inciting *"violent acts"* ahead of the PAU university entrance exams. The strike has disrupted classes, with unions demanding better working conditions .
Elsewhere, labor unrest is flaring across Latin America. In Chile, violent protests erupted on 1 June as unions and student groups demonstrated against President Kast’s social spending cuts, clashing with police during his State of the Nation address . In Honduras, a nationwide strike on 2 June shuttered schools and clinics, with unions demanding wage increases and public investment .
In Romania, unions representing police, healthcare workers, and teachers have threatened protests over a new wage law, warning of *"certain" demonstrations* if the government fails to address their demands by the 1 July deadline tied to EU recovery funds .
With the World Cup looming, Mexico’s government faces mounting pressure to resolve the teachers’ dispute before the tournament begins. Union leaders have vowed to continue protests, raising the specter of further disruptions to the global event.
- aljazeera
- die zeit
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