Businessman Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday, amidst recent public exchanges with Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum.
Salinas Pliego arrived at the stadium accompanied by his wife, María Laura Medina, to attend the start of the tournament. Upon entering the stadium, some fans shouted “President!” at him, according to videos circulating from inside the venue.
The businessman’s presence comes days after Claudia Sheinbaum accused him of allegedly promoting rhetoric that, in the federal government’s view, incites confrontation in the context of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) protests and the World Cup opening ceremony.
During her morning press conference on June 9, Sheinbaum stated that opposition sectors are trying to project an image of instability in Mexico amid the international attention generated by the World Cup. In this context, she questioned statements made by Salinas Pliego regarding the protests in the nation’s capital.
The Mexican President indicated that she has no evidence to link the businessman to the CNTE teachers’ union demonstrations, although she maintained that there is a consensus among various sectors critical of her administration. She also accused the owner of Grupo Salinas of using his platforms to promote messages that, in her interpretation, incite violence.
For his part, Salinas Pliego has maintained a critical stance toward the federal government and has repeatedly expressed disagreement with decisions and policies implemented by the current administration, which has led to a public confrontation between the two figures.
Meanwhile, federal and Mexico City authorities have reiterated that the opening and development of the 2026 World Cup have the necessary security and operational conditions to proceed normally.
President Sheinbaum has maintained that the tournament will proceed without incident and has called for the demonstrations to be carried out peacefully.
Source: MSN News
