Mexican citizens kick football with Donald Trump’s face, protest ‘expropriation’ during World Cup

Protesters on Saturday turned a major highway in Mexico City into a makeshift soccer field, playing makeshift matches to denounce World Cup preparations that they say are overshadowing the capital’s urgent needs.

The event took place on the white-painted tarmac of a busy ring road, with demonstrators wearing Mexican jerseys alongside the club colors of Pumas, Chivas and Italian side Juventus, while an organizer provided match commentary over a loudspeaker.

The protest was intended to denounce what organizers called the ‘World Cup of expropriation’ and to draw attention to shortages of housing, water, transport and electricity.

Reuters has contacted the Mexico City government for comment.

The event took place just hours before Mexico was due to play Portugal in a World Cup warm-up match and saw authorities deploy more than 4,000 emergency workers to ensure safety.

Protesters played a friendly match, or «cascarita,» along the highway’s central lane, causing a huge traffic jam that subsided when demonstrators moved to the outside lane for a second match.

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In a further political twist, the second match featured a football with the face of US President Donald Trump, the meaning of which was not immediately clear. Other signs of politics included Ukrainian flags and chants of “Free Palestine.”

“The unity that this sport builds between people – when a ball appears, everyone tries to play; you forget your differences and enjoy the game, the moment,” Roman, a protester who gave only his first name, said Reuters.

«Football is about the community; it’s about more than just money,» Roman said, adding that there are more pressing needs as authorities focus on the tournament.

«We want attention. We want decent transportation. We want water. We want electricity. We want to be able to go home. We want lighting on the streets.»

The players, surrounded by police, remained focused on winning the match while making their political points. When the ball rolled onto the road, they stood and waited for its return, while some passing motorists honked in support.

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Banners unfurled during the protest included «Global event, local eviction,» reflecting participants’ claims that World Cup-related development was fueling displacement in the capital.

«It’s contradictory, just because I love football very much. I follow football, but that doesn’t mean I support this. I don’t think it’s being handled in the best way in Mexico,» said Julian, another protester wearing a «Lucha Libre» wrestling mask.

Mexico will host the World Cup together with the United States and Canada. The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, with matches scheduled for Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Published on March 29, 2026