Mexico Reverses School Year Cut over World Cup

Mexico’s government has reversed its decision to shorten the academic year ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following widespread backlash from parents, researchers, and regional authorities.

The controversy erupted after Education Minister Mario Delgado announced on Friday that the school year would end around 40 days early, on June 5, citing extreme summer temperatures as the reason for the adjustment.

However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed reservations over the proposal and called for urgent consultations with education officials and local authorities.

Following a high-level meeting on Monday, officials agreed to maintain the original academic calendar, with the school year now set to conclude on July 15, followed by the traditional six-week summer holiday ending on August 31.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, United States, and Canada, is scheduled to begin on June 11 with an opening match in Mexico City featuring the host nation.

Sheinbaum said the government’s priority was to reach a consensus-based decision while preserving the standard school break. She added that some schools could adopt limited scheduling flexibility without disrupting the overall academic calendar.

Several Mexican states had already rejected the proposed change. Authorities in Jalisco announced that schools in Guadalajara would suspend classes for only four days during World Cup matches hosted in the city, while Nuevo León confirmed that schools in Monterrey would continue operating under the existing schedule.

Education experts and parents warned that reducing the school year could negatively affect millions of students. Research organization Mexico Evalua estimated the proposal would have reduced effective learning time for approximately 23.4 million students nationwide.

The Mexican government also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring security and completing major infrastructure projects ahead of the tournament, including expansion works at Estadio Azteca and upgrades to Mexico City International Airport.