Scuffles erupt at Mexico City fan zone before World Cup 2026 opener
Thousands of supporters attempted to enter the fan zone at Mexico City's Zocalo square on Thursday, creating significant jostling hours before the opening match of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, an AFP journalist reported.
Crowd incident at Zocalo fan zone
Thousands of supporters attempted to enter the fan zone at Mexico City's Zocalo square on Thursday 11 June, hours before the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. An AFP journalist witnessed significant jostling as fans pushed against barriers that had been installed to contain recent teachers' protests. The crush occurred midday, ahead of the match between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.
World Cup opening day
The 2026 World Cup begins today with the opening ceremony followed by the Mexico-South Africa match, scheduled for 1 p.m. local time (9 p.m. in Paris). The match will be broadcast on a giant screen at the Zocalo fan zone. Access to the square was restricted by the barriers, which authorities had erected in response to the recent demonstrations by teachers.
Later matches
After the opener, South Korea and the Czech Republic will face off in the night, with kickoff at 4 a.m. French time.
