Madres Buscadoras and Mexico’s Teacher’s Union: How the Fifa World Cup Plays into their Struggle for Support

Editor’s Note: The following article was written by Andrea Rodriguez, one of the Tribuno’s Summer 2026 Interns. 

While the Mexican stadiums are painted red, white, and green, glowing with the ardent fanaticism for the world’s most popular sport, more than 130,000 people in the country have gone missing. With the world’s eyes on México, as it co-hosts the Fifa World Cup, the rug with which this national crisis was swept under has threatened to burst. 

México, already welcoming thousands of tourists into their doors, is expected to reach more than ten million spectators throughout the month-long event. The country itself has prepared for months to host the sports event and every day, news of México’s role in the Fifa tournament is shared across the world. Madres Buscadoras has taken a hold of this opportunity. 

Madres Buscadoras refers to a widespread group of mothers and community members in México who actively look for their missing relatives. The group performs searches, often without supplies, to look into what has become a land of graves. In 2019, the Madres Buscadoras group in Sonora grew at an incredibly fast rate after Celia Flores’ three sons went missing. She began to search for them herself and soon, many others in Sonora joined her. Years later, Celia has been able to find one of her sons, but is still actively looking for her two other sons. Throughout her journey, Madres Buscadoras has grown across the nation as more mothers and community members join in searching for their families with new chapters being created in different states. The group has now found more than 5,000 missing people. 

Despite this incredible network’s success in finding their loved ones, thousands of people remain missing. While tourists fill the streets and the country puts together elaborate celebrations, Madres Buscadoras have taken to protesting the streets of México City with a chant of “¡México campeón en desaparición [Mexico champion of disappearances]!” Their aim is to gain national, and even international, support to bolster the resources for finding their families. In México City alone, costs for the Fifa World Cup, including infrastructure, have amounted to more than one billion USD. Many of those that wake up every morning with only hope guiding them to their loved ones question whether their country’s resources are being put in the right place.

Though Madres Buscadoras has been one of the most widespread protests during the last month, the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación [National Coordination of Education Workers] have too recognized the opportunity the World Cup presents to achieve their demands. The CNTE is a teacher’s union originating in the state of Michoacán. Dating back to the 70s, this organization relies on a collaborative structure to advocate for salary raises of teachers and combat barriers to a fair education. 

CNTE representatives had plans to protest during the World Cup months beforehand. The union warned if their demands were not met before the tournament began, they would take to the streets during the month of June. The CNTE understood the pressure the government faces under the scrutiny of the world and hoped to finally gain a victory. 

Instead, protestors have been forcibly removed and driven away with teargas in the last few weeks. There have been multiple recorded incidents before the Fifa World Cup officially kicked off on June 11. Nevertheless, the CNTE remains committed to obtaining fair wages and are yet to be deterred. The CNTE claims they will ramp up the number of protestors if their demands continue to be ignored. 

Madres Buscadoras and the CNTE are only two among many groups advocating for justice in México. Many communities in México face poverty, food insecurity, and a lack of access to education among many other issues. People have used the global popularity of the sports event to garner support and pressure their government to support them. Both organizations were created by the public to better equip themselves in the face of scarce resources and minimal government assistance. Their role in the World Cup protests represents an effort to bring their issues to the forefront of national attention, a spot they believe should have been given from the start. 

Mexico, one of the hosting countries of the Fifa World Cup, has brought a large amount of tourist revenue and cultural exchange. The cities have never been so colorful, bright with a sense of patriotism that has not been seen for a long time. Despite this, there remains a dark stain on the festivities as families are forced to navigate impossible situations without support. A member of Madres Buscadoras shares her experience during her country’s celebrations – “When it’s the World Cup, even if you’re not really a fan, you sit down at home and watch it with your family. But our family isn’t whole anymore. There’s an empty chair.”

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