<p>As football fans flood into tournament co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the North American country is grappling with chaotic teacher protests in its capital.</p><p>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<strong> "provocation."</strong></p><p><strong>"As if to say, 'Look at how bad the situation is in Mexico,'"</strong> she told a press conference.</p><p>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.</p><p>Authorities have deployed thousands of officers and set up concrete barriers surrounding the venue to block protests.</p><p><strong>"We intend to reach the stadium,"</strong> demonstrator Angel Villalobos told AFP on Tuesday.<strong> "The government has given some responses, but they don't help; they don't satisfy."</strong></p><p>Sheinbaum said earlier that the opening match was<strong> "guaranteed,"</strong> though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.</p><p>Her government has favored dialogue with the protesting teachers, but to no avail.</p><p><strong>"We're going to continue our struggle,"</strong> said Austreberto Flores, another protester looking to block Azteca Stadium.</p><p>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.</p><p>The teachers have also set up camp near the World Cup fan zone in Mexico City's Zocalo Square.</p><p>Like on June 1st, police dispersed protesters in the area with rubber bullets and teargas.</p><p><strong>"They want to make it seem like there is mass social turmoil in Mexico, and that's not true,"</strong> Sheinbaum has said of the protests.</p><p>The teachers have called for demonstrations on Thursday that will also include families of so-called <strong>"disappeared"</strong> people, who are alleged to have been killed or kidnapped by Mexican authorities or criminal gangs.</p><p>The 2026 edition of the world's biggest football extravaganza is the most logistically complex ever staged.</p><p>Mexico is still rushing to complete renovations at subway stations and at its main airport ahead of the tournament.</p>