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US President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to attend the World Cup, as the global football tournament prepares to kick off.

“I will, I will,” Trump said when an AFP reporter asked him in the Oval Office if he planned to be at any World Cup matches.

He did not give any details, but FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has said he expects Trump to present the trophy to the winning team at the final on July 19.

Last year Trump did the honors — and was booed — at the FIFA Club World Cup final at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, the same stadium where the World Cup final will take place.

The Republican billionaire has tried to stamp his mark on the World Cup that is being jointly held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, repeatedly mentioning how he successfully bid for it in his first term as president.

He has also struck up a firm friendship with Infantino, who presented Trump with a special peace prize in December, before US military operations in Venezuela and Iran.

“I spoke to Gianni this morning… he said there’s never been anything close” to the success of the coming tournament, Trump said.

The World Cup has however been dogged by off-field distractions ranging from sky-high ticket prices to an immigration crackdown that has seen fans, team officials and a top Somali referee barred from entering the United States.

Trump said his administration was working on the issue.

“We’re working on it very closely to ensure the right people come into our country,” he told reporters.

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A protest blocked an avenue leading to Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium for hours on Tuesday, just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off at the venue.

As football fans flood into tournament, co-hosted by the United States and Canada, Mexico is grappling with chaotic teacher protests in its capital.

Thousands took part in Tuesday’s protest, which was led by a breakaway group of the CNTE teachers union following a week of demonstrations that President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a “provocation.”

“As if to say, ‘Look at how bad the situation is in Mexico,’” she told a press conference.

A police blockade prevented the demonstrators from reaching the Azteca Stadium, which will host the World Cup opening match on Thursday.

With thousands of officers deployed and concrete barriers set up around the venue, protesters rallied on the street for around three hours before dispersing.

Mexico City’s security chief, Pablo Vazquez, said in a statement that the movement had been peaceful.
Sheinbaum said earlier that the opening match was “guaranteed,” though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.

Her government has favored dialogue with the protesting teachers, but to no avail.

“We’re going to continue our struggle,” said protester Austreberto Flores.
The CNTE teachers’ union has been on strike since last week to demand a salary raise and the reversal of a pension law — which the government considers unfeasible.
The teachers have also set up camp near the World Cup fan zone in Mexico City’s Zocalo Square.

On June 1, police dispersed protesters in the area with rubber bullets and teargas.

“They want to make it seem like there is mass social turmoil in Mexico, and that’s not true,” Sheinbaum has said of the protests.

Teachers and students from Ayotzinapa school march to the Ciudad de México Stadium in Mexico City on June 9, 2026.

The teachers have called for demonstrations on Thursday that will also include families of so-called “disappeared” people, who are alleged to have been killed or kidnapped by Mexican authorities or criminal gangs.
The 2026 edition of the world’s biggest football extravaganza is the most logistically complex ever staged.

Teachers and students from Ayotzinapa school march to the Ciudad de México Stadium in Mexico City on June 9, 2026.

A vast global TV audience is set to tune in to the opening ceremony and match pitting Mexico against South Africa.
Mexico is still rushing to complete renovations at subway stations and at its main airport ahead of the tournament.

AFP

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Thousands of demonstrators blocked an avenue leading to Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off at the venue.

As football fans flood into tournament co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Central American country is grappling with chaotic teacher protests in its capital.

Thousands of teachers blocked an avenue leading to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, 48 hours before the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup at that venue.

Tuesday’s protest, led by a breakaway group of the CNTE teachers union, follows a week of demonstrations that President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a “provocation.”

“As if to say, ‘Look at how bad the situation is in Mexico,’” she told a press conference.

The Azteca stadium will host the World Cup’s first game – pitting Mexico against South Africa – on Thursday, with a vast global TV audience set to tune in for the opening ceremony and the match.

Authorities have deployed thousands of officers and set up concrete barriers surrounding the venue to block protests.

“We intend to reach the stadium,” demonstrator Angel Villalobos told AFP on Tuesday. “The government has given some responses, but they don’t help, they don’t satisfy.”

Sheinbaum said earlier that the opening match was “guaranteed,” though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.

Her government has favored dialogue with the protesting teachers, but to no avail.

“We’re going to continue our struggle,” said Austreberto Flores, another protester looking to block Azteca Stadium.

The CNTE teachers union has been on strike since last week to demand a salary raise and the reversal of a pension law — which the government considers unfeasible.

The teachers have also set up camp near the World Cup fan zone in Mexico City’s Zocalo square.

On June 1, police dispersed protesters in the area with rubber bullets and teargas.

“They want to make it seem like there is mass social turmoil in Mexico, and that’s not true,” Sheinbaum has said of the protests.

The teachers have called for demonstrations on Thursday that will also include families of so-called “disappeared” people, who are alleged to have been killed or kidnapped by Mexican authorities or criminal gangs.

The 2026 edition of the world’s biggest football extravaganza is the most logistically complex ever staged.

Mexico is still rushing to complete renovations at subway stations and at its main airport ahead of the tournament.

AFP