Protesters and police clashed outside Mexico City Stadium as the 2026 World Cup began on Thursday.The tournament kicked off with co-hosts Mexico meeting South Africa in Mexico City against a backdrop of significant civil unrest and anti-government protests.A strong security presence was in place around the perimeter of the 82,000-capacity arena with supporters and others attending the game advised to arrive well in advance of the 1 p.m. ET kick-off time.The Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City (SSC CDMX) reported that “a group of around 200 hooded individuals” clashed with law enforcement officers outside the stadium before the situation was brought under control. A 28-year-old woman reported to be involved was detained, it added, before later being released.Mexico City Metro reported that multiple stations were closed as a result of the protests while a reported incident at a fan zone in the city was defused, local authorities said.Despite the disruption outside the stadium, the majority of supporters in attendance appeared to get inside without delay.A strong security presence was in place around the perimeter of the 82,000-capacity arena. (Reuters / Quetzalli Nicte-Ha)The build-up to the tournament’s opening game featured ongoing protests between the country’s state and a militant wing of the national teachers’ union (Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion or CNTE). The first two days of June saw activists teargassed as they set plastic statues of footballers alight and caused so much traffic disruption that Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum was prevented from reaching the National Palace.