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.

Varias manifestaciones amenazan con estrangular los accesos al Estadio Azteca el 11 de junio durante la inauguración del Mundial. Conoce las rutas y horarios.

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