Riot police clashed with protesters hurling stones outside the World Cup opening ceremony at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. As the match between Mexico and South Africa kicked off, tensions escalated dramatically.
Protesters Target Police
Protesters threw rocks, bottles, and even bouquets of orange flowers at riot police stationed at entrance eight of the stadium. The crowd control barriers had been torn down, and officers used shields to defend themselves. The barrage intensified shortly after Mexico scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup.
Mothers of the Disappeared
Earlier, mothers searching for their disappeared children reportedly breached the security cordon surrounding the Azteca Stadium. These madres buscadoras had been marching for days to highlight the plight of over 130,000 missing people in Mexico, many feared killed by drug cartels.
In the days leading up to the match, 400 family members marched along the main avenue to the stadium, carrying banners and pictures of their loved ones. One banner read: 'The ball is coming home, but when are you coming home?'
Security Operation
Roads around the stadium in Calzada de Tlalpan were blocked by a sweeping security operation, but some groups managed to break through. Moments before the Mexican national anthem played, security barriers were pushed aside on surrounding roads.
Footage appears to show the mothers, along with other protesters, breaching the perimeter. The mothers have become one of the most vocal groups, embodying the agony of families living in limbo over the fate of the missing.
This incident adds to the tense atmosphere surrounding the World Cup, which is being hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
