Mexico's Sheinbaum vows to head off teachers' strike before World Cup

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during a daily press conference in Mexico City, Mexico April 30, 2026. REUTERS/Henry Romero Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab "We're going to address this," Sheinbaum told her ​daily press conference. "We must respect freedoms while also ​ensuring the World Cup proceeds." Tensions between teaching unions ⁠and the government flared up earlier this month ​when authorities floated a plan to move the summer school ​break forward to June 5 from July 15 due to the World Cup. Some teachers accused authorities of trying to undermine their ​demands for better pay and pensions. Teaching unions have for ​years held periodic protests and sit-ins that have forced street closures ‌and ⁠caused traffic jams in Mexico City's downtown area. The powerful CNTE union announced on Sunday that it plans to strike and hold protests beginning June 1 if its ​latest demands aren't ​met, while ⁠a branch of another major teachers' union, the SNTE, announced it would suspend activities ​beginning May 25. "If there's no solution, the ​ball ⁠won't roll," the CNTE said. Five World Cup soccer matches are due to take place in Mexico City, with others ⁠scheduled ​for Guadalajara and Monterrey. The United ​States and Canada are also co-hosts of the games. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab