The opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City showcased a stark contrast between celebration and the ongoing crisis of missing persons in the country. Over 1,000 relatives of the missing protested outside the Estadio Azteca, demanding that their plight not be overshadowed by the football festivities. With more than 130,000 people reported missing, the issue is deeply intertwined with organized crime and has prompted calls for government accountability and reform.