Mexico City: Mexican authorities have announced that the academic year will end more than a month early as the country prepares to host matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism from parents, educators, and policy experts.
Education Secretary Mario Delgado said the school year would conclude on June 5, approximately 40 days earlier than scheduled, citing both extreme weather conditions and logistical preparations for the global football tournament.
“We’re going to end the school year on June 5 because many states are already experiencing high temperatures, and there is also the issue of the World Cup,” Delgado said during an event in the northern state of Sonora.
He added that authorities are also considering advancing the start of the next academic year, currently set for August 31, to adjust the national education calendar around the tournament.
The FIFA World Cup 2026, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, is scheduled to begin on June 11, with Mexico’s opening match against South Africa set to take place in Mexico City.
However, the announcement quickly triggered controversy. President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that the proposal was not yet final.
“There is no definitive calendar yet,” she said at her daily press briefing. “It is important that children do not lose learning time.”
The decision has raised concerns among parents, many of whom now face additional childcare costs during an extended summer break.
Public policy think tank Mexico Evalua warned that the move could negatively impact more than 23 million students, further deepening educational inequalities and reducing already limited learning time.
Business groups also criticized the plan. The Coparmex employers’ association described it as “hasty,” warning of disruptions to family routines and potential effects on workforce productivity.
In a significant pushback, officials in the western state of Jalisco—governed by opposition authorities—announced they would not implement the early closure. Schools there will remain open until June 30 as originally scheduled, except for brief suspensions during World Cup matches hosted in Guadalajara to accommodate logistical arrangements.
