Dozens of protesters clashed with police on Thursday outside the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This was during the first World Cup match between South Africa and Mexico, which drew 80,000 fans.
Groups of teachers, families of missing Mexicans, and student activists gathered early Thursday. They faced a heavy police presence outside the stadium.
Some protesters broke through barriers and fought with officers who were guarding the stadium. This happened just after Mexico scored the first goal of the tournament.
A few youths damaged vehicle windows with bats as police responded. They fired tear gas and sent mounted officers to control the crowd. The protesters then scattered in different directions.
Mexico’s government has dealt with weeks of protests. Most of these protests come from teachers who are demanding better working conditions.
At one point, it seemed like the protests could stop the city from having an official World Cup fan zone in the famous Zocalo.
But on Thursday, thousands of fans flooded into the plaza. They pushed and squeezed through metal barriers, causing chaos just before the opening game kicked off.
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