Mexico City has been put on hold in preparation for the 2026 World Cup
Mexico City has decided to take an unusual approach to preparing for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ahead of the first match, authorities canceled classes in schools and recommended that thousands of people work from home.
In this way, Mexico City aims to avoid traffic chaos and safely accommodate the huge number of fans arriving for the tournament’s opening.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a special decree that will alter the capital’s usual rhythm of life on the day the World Cup kicks off. On June 11, schools in Mexico City will be closed, and a significant portion of government employees will switch to remote work.
The reason is simple—the authorities are expecting a massive influx of tourists, soccer fans, FIFA representatives, journalists, and official delegations from around the world. The government has decided to reduce the strain on roads, public transportation, and urban infrastructure in advance.
Students will feel the changes the most. On the opening day of the World Cup, all educational institutions in the capital will temporarily suspend operations. This applies to kindergartens, schools, colleges, and universities. The restriction applies to both public and private educational institutions.
City officials explain that this decision will remove thousands of cars and school buses from the roads, which place a significant daily burden on the city’s transportation system. In effect, for many residents of Mexico City, this day will be an extra day off.
Another step was the transition of a significant portion of government employees to remote work. All federal agencies were instructed to organize their work online as much as possible. Exceptions were made only for those services that cannot operate remotely.
This includes police, emergency responders, medical personnel, critical infrastructure workers, as well as staff directly involved in organizing the matches. Authorities also urged private companies to join this initiative and allow their employees to work from home.
Mexico City is one of the world’s largest cities, where traffic conditions remain challenging even on ordinary days. During major international events, road congestion increases dramatically. That is why the government decided to take proactive measures.
The document states that the main goal is to ensure public safety, improve mobility in the city, and prevent a traffic collapse during the tournament’s opening. Authorities believe that these measures will help make the first day of the championship as comfortable as possible for both local residents and visitors to the country.
The 2026 World Cup will be historic. For the first time, the tournament will be hosted simultaneously by three countries—Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The opening match will take place in Mexico City at the legendary Azteca Stadium.
In the first game of the World Cup, the Mexican national team will face South Africa. Tens of thousands of fans are expected in the stands, and millions of viewers around the world will watch the match.
In the run-up to the tournament, the capital is actively preparing for the festivities. Large screens, themed fan zones, and additional tourist areas are being set up in the city center. Police are stepping up security measures, and transportation services are operating under special plans.
For Mexico City, this World Cup is not just a sporting event, but also an opportunity to showcase itself to millions of visitors and television viewers. That is why the authorities decided to sacrifice one school day and part of the work schedule to ensure that the start of the soccer festival goes off without a hitch.
