Soccer-Mexican protesters turn highway into football pitch to slam World Cup ’dispossession’

try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Trump Mulls deployment of Marines to Iran, Houthis strike Israel as war continues Expert says the upcoming week will be a pivotal moment in the Iran war. Here’s why Leading broker sees gold falling to $3,700 as a real possibility U.S. tech pullback mirrors late stages of dotcom era, strategists say (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Soccer-Mexican protesters turn highway into football pitch to slam World Cup ’dispossession’ By World Published 03/28/2026, 10:33 PM Updated 03/28/2026, 10:36 PM Soccer-Mexican protesters turn highway into football pitch to slam World Cup ’dispossession’ 0 By Angelica Medina MEXICO CITY, March 28 - Protesters transformed a major Mexico City highway into a makeshift football pitch on Saturday, playing impromptu matches to denounce World Cup preparation which they said is overshadowing the capital’s pressing needs. The event unfolded on the white-painted asphalt of a busy ring road, with demonstrators wearing Mexico jerseys alongside club colours of Pumas, Chivas and Italian side Juventus, while an organiser provided match commentary over a loudspeaker. The protest was intended to denounce what organizers termed the "World Cup of Dispossession" 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 over 4,000 emergency services personnel to ensure safety. Protesters played a friendly match, or "cascarita", along the highway’s central lane, causing a massive build-up of traffic which eased when protesters moved to the outside lane for a second match. In a further political twist, the second match featured a football bearing the face of U.S. President Donald Trump, the significance of which was not immediately clear. Other signs of politics included Ukraine flags and chant...