Mexico President Sheinbaum Skips World Cup Opener, Donates Ticket
Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum will not attend tonight’s World Cup opening game in Mexico City, where Mexico is scheduled to face South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, also known as Estadio Azteca. She said she will instead donate her ticket through a contest for women in Mexico aged 16 to 25.
The decision comes as the World Cup’s opening ceremony takes place today in Mexico City and as teachers’ union protests have included marches, blocked major venues, and threats of further demonstrations outside the opening game. Sheinbaum has said the opening of the World Cup in Mexico City is still guaranteed.
Estadio Azteca Opening Night
The first of three World Cup opening ceremonies is scheduled for tonight at Mexico City Stadium. The game between Mexico and South Africa is the marquee event attached to the ceremony, and Sheinbaum’s absence removes the country’s president from one of the most visible public appearances on the opening night.
Sheinbaum, who has been president of Mexico since 2024, became the first female leader of Mexico and the first person of Jewish heritage to hold the office. She was born on June 24, 1962, studied physics at university, and later received a doctorate in energy engineering. She also became the first female mayor of Mexico City in 2018 before stepping down in 2023 to run for president.
Teachers’ Union Protests
The protests around the opening have added pressure to an event Mexico City planned as a global showcase. The teachers’ union has staged marches, blocked major venues, and threatened further demonstrations outside the opening game, while Sheinbaum condemned the protests and said: “What they want is for the international headline before the World Cup opening to be, "The Mexican government is repressing teachers". That's what they're aiming for but they're not going to get it.”
Sheinbaum’s ticket giveaway also shifts attention to who gets access to the stadium on a night built around ceremony as much as football. By turning the ticket over to women aged 16 to 25, she tied her absence to a public selection rather than a private cancellation, leaving the opening to proceed without the head of state in the stands.
Sheinbaum’s Public Message
Sheinbaum has often used public moments to project accessibility. Her approval rating stands at about 70% or above, and she has presented herself as a visible national figure since taking office in 2024. The World Cup opening in Mexico City still goes ahead tonight, with the president absent and the protests still hanging over the stadium perimeter.
The next pressure point is the opening game itself: Mexico and South Africa are set to play at Mexico City Stadium while the teachers’ union has already threatened more demonstrations around the event.
