"Many Mexicans, we like soccer and we're waiting for the World Cup." That's Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, explaining why the country's school year is now ending June 5 — more than a month ahead of schedule.
On May 7, Secretary of Public Education Mario Delgado announced the overhaul of the national academic calendar. He didn't mention the World Cup in his video message, but the formal government bulletin that followed did, explicitly. The decision, it stated, was made by education secretaries across all 31 states plus Mexico City — unanimously — citing both high temperatures and the football World Cup as reasons for the change.
A country reorganising itself around the tournament
This isn't just a school story. It's a snapshot of how deeply the 2026 World Cup is already reshaping daily life in Mexico, months before a ball is kicked. Mexico City mayor Clara Brugada has asked employers to allow remote working during the tournament. The capital's education leaders had already floated adjusting schedules on matchdays. The country is actively restructuring around a football calendar.
Not everyone is on board. Jalisco — whose governor is from the rival Citizens' Movement party rather than the ruling Morena — pushed back, saying they never requested a full calendar shift and would keep schools running until June 30, suspending classes only on days when games are played in their city. Four matches are scheduled at the Estadio Akron, Chivas' home ground.
The practical counter-argument is straightforward: only the opening game falls during typical school hours. The rest of Mexico's group stage matches happen outside those windows. Critics have pointed this out. Others have fond memories of watching El Tri from the classroom during past World Cups — two-hour communal breaks that became their own kind of education.
Mexico's group stage schedule
- June 11 — Mexico vs South Africa (opening game)
- June 18 — Mexico vs Korea (Jalisco)
- June 24 — Mexico vs Czech Republic (Mexico City)
Sheinbaum herself noted the calendar still isn't finalised, and cautioned the proposal was just that — a proposal. But the direction of travel is clear. Mexico is a co-host nation, El Tri are in the group stage, and the government's formal bulletin already has the World Cup in writing. The school bell rang early. The World Cup is why.
