Thunderous Azteca triumph offers respite from Mexico City street strife

The walk to Estadio Ciudad de México — the Azteca — on Thursday exposed two sides of Mexico as the World Cup opened. Fans funneled by volunteers and steel barriers chanted, waved the tricolor and drank in the street to the sound of traditional banda music. A short way down the route, smaller crowds of protesters clashed with police; Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, had recently reached an agreement with striking teachers but some demonstrators remained, lobbing debris at hundreds of riot police.

There has been talk that Mexico was offered only 'un pedacito' of the tournament, with most matches in the United States, and high prices have not helped — a beer at the Azteca cost about 280 pesos and tickets reached into the thousands. Still, gates opened at 9am and the renovated stadium filled; midfielder Érik Lira said thousands waited along the team bus route with signs reading 'Mexico united' and 'We love Mexico.' The match finished 2-0 to the hosts.

Mexico, Mexico City

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