Mexico City merchants tear down barricades ahead of World Cup kickoff

Local merchants in Mexico City’s Historic Center took action on Wednesday to improve access for pedestrians. They removed metal barricades that had restricted movement for two weeks, just one day before the World Cup began. The move aimed to ease congestion and help customers reach businesses in the area. Early in the morning, shopkeepers and residents opened passageways at key intersections. These included Motolinía and Tacuba, as well as Donceles and República de Argentina. A shopkeeper on Donceles Street reported that the entrance was cleared by midday, though people had to walk around the blocked-off zone earlier.

Signs on the metal barriers along Guatemala and Correo Mayor advertised open businesses, such as 'La Marsella Haberdashery' and 'Blusas Paloma'. However, a local merchant expressed frustration about the impact of the closures on sales. They also alleged that police had been charging 10 pesos to let people through.

After the barriers were dismantled, officers from Mexico City’s Citizen Security Secretariat and local government were deployed. Their role was to monitor pedestrian movement through the newly opened access points. Later, personnel from the Public Works Secretariat reinstalled the barriers that merchants had removed. The removal of the barriers occurred after two weeks of restricted access. Security and government officials were stationed to oversee the flow of pedestrians. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between merchants, authorities, and the need for accessible public spaces.