Packed Mexico city squares closed hours before start

The World Cup atmosphere was hardly noticeable in Mexico City until yesterday, but on opening day the streets turned green from the early hours of the morning. Everywhere you look, people are wearing Mexico jerseys, while the city's main square, Zocalo, has been packed since dawn. Some fans even lined up at 4:00 a.m. to secure a place among the 55,000 spectators who, because of the extremely high ticket prices, will watch the opening match of the World Cup and Mexico's clash with South Africa on giant screens in FIFA's fan zone.

It is no secret that tickets for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada are extraordinarily expensive, and on the day of the opening match some are being sold for more than 7,000 euros. As a result, most Mexicans will be watching the matches in public squares rather than at the famous Estadio Azteca, with the most popular fan zone located at the aforementioned Zocalo. The crowds are so large that the entrances were closed three hours before kick-off. There is simply no room left for anyone else. The fan zone is located not far from the tents and gathering area where teachers from across Mexico have been staging protests.

A World Cup fan zone on Mexico City's Zocalo square will broadcast the tournament's opening ceremony and match on Thursday despite protests across the capital, President Claudia Sheinbaum said.

"We're going to try to go to Zocalo," Sheinbaum told a press conference as her administration grapples with chaotic teacher protests ahead of the first match kick-off at 1900 GMT. The left-leaning leader is expected to watch the game between Mexico and South Africa in the square -- a focal point for protests.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE

First round

Thursday, 11.06.

22.00: (1.50) Mexico (4.00) S.Africa (7.25)

Friday, 12. 06.

05.00: (2.70) S.Korea (3.10) Czech R. (2.75)

22.00: (1.85) Canada (3.70) B&H (4.25)

Saturday, 13.06.

04.00: (2.05) USA (3.35) Paraguay (3.80)

22.00: (12.0) Qatar (5.40) Switzerland (1.28)

Sunday, 14.06.

01.00: (1.62) Brazil (3.80) Morocco (5.80)

04.00: (6.80) Haiti (4.45) Scotland (1.47)

07.00: (4.50) Australia (3.50) Turkey (1.83)

20.00: (1.03) Germany (15.0) Curacao (50.0)

02.00: (2.10) Netherlands (3.45) Japan (3.50)