On Thursday, June 11, 2026, families of missing persons and search collectives took to the streets of Mexico City to protest government indifference toward the ongoing crisis of disappearances in the country. Their demonstrations coincided with the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to highlight the urgent need for justice and effective action.

The protests were sparked by a controversial statement from Mexico City’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who said that during a Wednesday night protest there were more officials from the National Search Commission present than actual protesters. This comment was met with sharp criticism from the search collectives, who see it as a minimization of their struggle and pain.

Yadira González, coordinator of the Desaparecidos Querétaro collective, responded with irony: if it’s true that more government personnel than protesters were present, then it means authorities are finally dedicating enough resources to address the crisis of over 130,000 disappearances nationwide. “This would be good news, as it would guarantee, without excuses, the search for the missing,” González said.

The protests also addressed remarks by Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez, who questioned the origins and funding of some collectives participating in Mexico City’s mobilizations. González firmly rejected these accusations, emphasizing that their only goal is truth and justice. “We are not a political party. I am searching for my brother. This month marks 20 years since Juan disappeared. We have lived through all these governments—from Calderón, Fox, Peña Nieto, López Obrador, to now Claudia Sheinbaum—and they are all the same,” she stated.

Leticia Martínez de la Rosa, whose brother Joel disappeared in October 2024, called Rodríguez’s comments “an offense.” She added, “If she understood our suffering, if she listened to us and guaranteed real searches, she wouldn’t say such things. She doesn’t put herself in the shoes of the searchers. She doesn’t care.”

Ana Victoria Magaña, sister of Josef Viktor Magaña, also spoke out during the protests, saying, “They revictimize the disappeared and their families. We spend money on searches and paperwork, and no one does anything. They mock us who truly need to find our loved ones. This is not political; no one is paying us. We all come with our pain.”

The collective message was clear: their protests are not against the World Cup itself but against the government’s ongoing neglect and lack of dignified treatment. “We are tired of being ignored and disrespected,” Magaña added.

As Mexico prepares to welcome the world for the football tournament, these voices remind us that the country’s social crises remain urgent and unresolved. The call for justice and effective action continues, demanding that authorities prioritize human rights and the search for the disappeared above all else.