MEXICO CITY – The roar of 80,000 fans reverberated through the legendary Estadio Azteca on Thursday night as Shakira set the stage ablaze, but the electric atmosphere inside Mexico’s iconic venue stood in stark contrast to the chaos unfolding beyond its walls.

Colombian pop sensation Shakira, a World Cup veteran in her own right, teamed up with Nigerian star Burna Boy to deliver a pulsating rendition of “Dai Dai”, the tournament’s official anthem, sending the capacity crowd into raptures. Dancers whirled around a colossal replica of the World Cup trophy whilst fireworks illuminated the pitch, transforming the renovated cathedral of Mexican football into a carnival of colour and sound.

“It’s already a party in Mexico,” beamed Ingrid Orozco, a 40-year-old supporter amongst the frenzied masses.

The venerable Azteca, which previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, proved the perfect theatre for the curtain-raiser between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa. The partisan crowd’s delirium reached fever pitch as Mexico stormed to a commanding 2-0 victory over a beleaguered South African side reduced to nine men after two red cards.

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Yet whilst jubilation reigned inside the fortress, disorder plagued the streets outside.

Fan zone mayhem

In the heart of Mexico City, thousands of supporters descended into pandemonium as they attempted to squeeze into the official World Cup fan zone at Zocalo plaza. Metal barriers, hastily erected to deter protesting teachers from accessing the area, created a bottleneck that sparked ugly scenes.

“Stop pushing and shoving, there are children here, you’re like animals!” a city official bellowed through a megaphone, desperately attempting to restore order as frustrated fans jostled for entry to watch the match on giant screens.

Water bottles rained down on police officers as supporters hurled abuse alongside pro-Mexico chants. The local government eventually declared the site “full” via social media, urging fans to disperse to alternative viewing locations.

“It took us an hour to get in, it was chaos, and getting out was even worse,” lamented 49-year-old Victor Gomez, who abandoned his plans with his partner. “Inside, you can’t even walk, and you can’t see anything.”

Protests turn violent

President Claudia Sheinbaum altered her plans at the eleventh hour, opting to watch from a local sports centre rather than the fan zone following days of teacher-led demonstrations demanding wage increases.

The teachers, bolstered by relatives of missing Mexicans and student activists, congregated outside the Azteca early Thursday. As kick-off approached, tensions boiled over when protesters breached security barriers, trading blows with officers manning the stadium’s perimeter.

Mounted police charged into the fray as tear gas clouded the air, attempting to disperse demonstrators who scattered on foot. A handful of youths wielded bats, smashing vehicle windows in scenes more reminiscent of a battleground than a football festival.

The jarring juxtaposition painted a complex portrait of Mexico’s World Cup hosting duties, a nation capable of delivering world-class sporting spectacle whilst grappling with deep-seated social unrest. As Shakira’s voice echoed through the Azteca and Mexico’s players celebrated on the hallowed turf, the reality beyond the touchlines told a far more turbulent story.