World Cup kicks off in Mexico with Shakira, vibrant fans, and protests
There was a star-studded opening ceremony, and some sporadic clashes between police and protesters at points around the Azteca stadium.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
World Cup kicks off in Mexico with Shakira, dancing, and protests8 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleWill Grant,BBC's Mexico, Central America and Cuba correspondent,Kwasi Gyamfi AsieduandNardine SaadReutersThe 2026 World Cup has begun in Mexico City with an opening ceremony filled with colour, dancing and a performance by global music star Shakira.Thousands of fans arrived at the legendary Azteca stadium in Mexico City with a real sense of excitement for the first World Cup on their home turf in 40 years.But outside the stadium, there were sporadic violent clashes as radical protesters attempted to disrupt the event and were met by a heavy security response.For the most part, though, football took centre stage and there were wild celebrations as Mexico kicked off their…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at BBC News.