Criticism of the World Cup in Mexico
“Tens of thousands of dead people lie in morgues”
A report by Marc Pfitzenmaier
June 12, 2026 – 11:28 a.mReading time: 4 minutes
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Mexico celebrates its third World Cup with fireworks, fighter jets and millions of enthusiastic fans. But behind the euphoria there is a lot of simmering.
Marc Pfitzenmaier reports from Mexico City
As pop superstar Shakira finished her performance, fireworks shot into the sky above the Estadio de Mexico, and two military helicopters flew around the stadium with a huge national flag at their center. Shortly afterwards, fighter jets thundered over the heads of the fans and painted the colors of the Mexican national flag in the sky.
The historic venue, which everyone only calls by its original name, Estadio Azteca (Aztec Stadium), shook with the cheers of the fans. It could not be overlooked that FIFA was basing its hosting of this World Cup on major events such as the American Superbowl.
A flood of football lovers dressed in green jerseys had moved towards the stadium in the hours before kick-off. Hundreds of thousands more gathered in the capital’s public squares in front of giant screens to watch the opening game between Mexico and South Africa.
But the gigantomania of this World Cup is not only generating enthusiasm in Mexico. It cannot really distract from the country’s pressing problems, as became clear in the run-up to the start of the World Cup in Mexico City.
- Stones and tear gas: Mexicans riot in front of the World Cup stadium
- Fuss about referee at opening game: “It’s stuck, that’s a shame”
Reports of protests by teachers’ unions that blocked the World Cup’s largest fan mile and actions by the relatives of so-called desaparecidos (disappeared people) give the World Cup euphoria a bitter aftertaste. In the days and hours before the opening game they even threatened to plunge the capital into chaos.
Mexico is considered by many to be the heart of the World Cup
Many consider Mexico to be the heart of this tournament. No country has hosted more World Cups than the Latin American country, which is now hosting a World Cup for the third time. Although only 13 of the 104 games take place there, it is also the only one of the three host countries where football is the undisputed national sport.
In Canada, despite its growing popularity, football is hardly suitable for the masses, and in the USA, Donald Trump is refusing entry to entire national teams or renowned referees. Foreign fans have serious doubts about American hospitality, and not just because of the astronomically high ticket prices.
In Mexico, on the other hand, the internet has been flooded with posts in recent days in which foreign fans are celebrated by their hosts. For weeks, central metro stations have been being renovated at full speed, houses and sidewalks have been given new paint, the airport has been modernized and a total of 18 public viewing options have been set up in central squares in the city. The country wants to show itself at its best.