On Thursday, June 11, 2026, as the World Cup kicked off in Mexico, former president Felipe Calderón took to X to highlight his presence at the 2010 tournament’s opening match in South Africa, subtly contrasting it with current president Claudia Sheinbaum’s absence from key events in Mexico City.

Calderón shared a post recalling that in 2010, the World Cup was held in South Africa, and the opening game was between the host nation and Mexico. He noted that then-president Jacob Zuma invited him to the match, which ended in a draw highlighted by a stunning goal from Rafa Márquez.

This message was widely seen as a direct response to Sheinbaum’s decision not to attend either the opening match at Estadio Azteca or the Fan Fest at the Zócalo on June 11, 2026. Instead, Sheinbaum followed the tournament’s start through public activities in the Gustavo A. Madero borough and later from government offices.

Her absence came amid heightened tensions in Mexico City, with protests planned by the CNTE teachers’ union, search collectives, and other groups during the World Cup inauguration. Authorities responded with a significant security operation, securing both the stadium and the historic downtown area.

Social media users quickly noticed the contrast, sharing images of Calderón at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg in 2010 alongside Sheinbaum’s more reserved approach to the 2026 opening.

Sixteen years apart, facing the same opponent—South Africa—the two presidents experienced the World Cup’s opening in very different ways. This moment invites reflection on how political leadership engages with national and international events, and how public presence can shape the narrative around such global spectacles.