Mexico Scraps Plan to Shorten School Year for World Cup After Public Backlash

Mexico's education authorities announced on May 12 that they were abandoning a proposal to shorten the 2025–2026 school year to allow students and families to follow the FIFA World Cup 2026, after the plan drew significant public criticism. Al Jazeera reported that the proposal had generated backlash from educators and parents who objected to restructuring the academic calendar around a sporting event. The reversal reflects the delicate balance Mexican authorities are navigating as hosts of three tournament venues — Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), Estadio Akron (Guadalajara), and Estadio BBVA (Monterrey) — while managing domestic expectations and public services. Mexico opens the entire tournament with the first match at Estadio Azteca on June 11 (vs. South Africa, Group A), giving Mexico's World Cup co-hosting role particular symbolic weight. The abandoned school-year plan follows the broader pattern of host nations adjusting civil life around the tournament.