The opening game of the 2026 World Cup has been marred by chaotic scenes outside the stadium in Mexico City after protesters fought with police and a man suffered a serious medical emergency.
As the festivities got underway inside the iconic 87,000-seater Mexico City Stadium – usually named the Estadio Azteca – there were more unsavory scenes taking place away from the world’s glare just outside the gates.
The Daily Mail witnessed the carnage unfold, as protesters – reportedly made up of the families of those missing in the Mexican drug war – attempted to breach the stadium and were forcibly pushed back by police.
Just 10 minutes before the start of the Mexico-South Africa tournament opener, hundreds of protesters approached the stadium from the north-east side, attempting to get into the inner ring of the stadium.
They threw flares and rocks at the police and smashed up a lorry parked near the stadium. Riot police were quickly deployed from Gate C and pushed them back up the road they had arrived from, firing tear gas in the process.
On social media, the numbers were estimated at 2000 protesters and approximately 300 riot police plus a mounted unit at Gate 8 of the stadium.
Carnage erupted outside the Mexico City Stadium as protesters fought with riot police
The unsavory scenes unfolded as the first game of the World Cup kicked off just meters away
As the carnage unfolded from outside, the cheering from the start of the game inside could be heard in stark contrast.
There was also another – unrelated – tragic incident reported outside the stadium, after video was shared online of a man who appeared to have suffered a heart attack.
The current condition of the man is unknown, but widely-shared clips showed him receiving CPR from a group of medics after he suffered the medical emergency on his way into the stadium to watch the game.
Meanwhile, ahead of the opening game it was reported that eight simultaneous protests had been planned around Mexico City, purposely coinciding with the start of the World Cup.
Per multiple reports, the groups expected to mobilize included heartbroken families of those affected by the ongoing drug war between the cartels and law enforcement, the CNTE (teachers’ union), Federal Judiciary workers, transport workers, healthcare workers, and farmers’ organizations.
There was a heavy police presence around the vicinity of the stadium as police anticipated unrest and attempted to shut it down quickly.
Inside the stadium, the World Cup got off to a flying start with an opening ceremony headlined by Shakira, before the team itself scored inside the opening 10 minutes of the game.
