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  "path": "/sport/football/world-cup-mexico-city-protesters-police-man-heart-attack",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-12T00:43:37.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "hundreds of demonstrators had gathered",
    "midst of the country's drug war",
    "ITV viewers 'switch off' FIFA World Cup opening ceremony as football fans all share same complaint",
    "World Cup fans warned about 'lone wolf' gunmen by ex-FBI chief ahead of tournament start",
    "Anti-World Cup demonstrations hit host city days before tournament starts",
    "eight separate protests",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nChaos erupted outside the opening game of the 2026 World Cup after rampaging protesters clashed with riot police and a man suffered a heart attack outside the stadium.\n\nAs the tournament kicked off inside the Estadio Azteca, hundreds of demonstrators had gathered outside the gates of the 87,000-seat venue.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMany are believed to be relatives of those missing in the midst of the country's drug war - which has killed an estimated 400,000 in the past two decades.\n\nMinutes before Mexico kicked off in their clash with 2010 hosts South Africa, protesters began approaching the stadium before attempting to breach the premises.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nThe unruly mob proceeded to smash up a nearby lorry before hurling flares and stones at police officers.\n\nRiot police swarmed the scene to push demonstrators away from the iconic ground, throwing rocks back in their direction and deploying tear gas.\n\nThe disorder is believed to have come from a mob of 200 masked men who broke away from two groups of 800 protesters, according to the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City (SSC).\n\nAround 300 police officers were deployed to move the crowd on.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAfter the game got underway, an extra layer of riot police were seen protecting the perimeter of the stadium amid fears of further unrest.\n\nIn a separate unrelated incident, a man collapsed as he suffered a heart attack while making his way to the stadium.\n\nVideos circulated on social media showing medics giving the individual CPR after he fell ill.\n\nHe was swiftly rushed to a nearby hospital, where he is stable condition, according to the SSC.\n\n### MEXICO - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * ITV viewers 'switch off' FIFA World Cup opening ceremony as football fans all share same complaint\n  * World Cup fans warned about 'lone wolf' gunmen by ex-FBI chief ahead of tournament start\n  * Anti-World Cup demonstrations hit host city days before tournament starts\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIt is understood that eight separate protests in Mexico City were planned ahead of the World Cup opening fixture.\n\nIn addition to the grieving drug war families, groups who had organised demonstrations included public workers from a host of sectors, including education, transport, healthcare and farming.\n\nMexico City's government head Clara Brugada Molina rejected calls to outlaw the gatherings prior to the major event.\n\n\"This is a city where these events can coincide,\" she declared.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMs Molina said: \"There is a right to protest as well as to experience the joy of living a World Cup.\"\n\nAs violence erupted outside the stadium, spectators inside were treated to an eventful afternoon as Mexico kicked off the campaign with a dramatic 2-0 win against South Africa.\n\nGoals from Quinones and Jimenez did the job but the headlines will be dominated by the flurry of red cards.\n\nSithole, Zwane and Montes were all shown their marching orders to make it a memorable start to the competition - and a pub quiz answer years down the line.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "World Cup chaos as rampaging protesters fight riot police and man suffers heart attack outside stadium"
}