Mexican Farmers Will Stop World Cup

ByRafael Ramírez

This article by Rafael Ramírez originally appeared in the January 20, 2026 edition of El Sol de México.

The National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Countryside maintains an open confrontation with the government over agri-food policy and the USMCA Free Trade Agreement, warned Eraclio Rodríguez, leader of the peasant organization.

A month ago, the Front mobilized in Mexico City to demand solutions to their water and security demands. Rodríguez reported in an interview with El Sol de México that although they did achieve some progress regarding water concessions, the Front will no longer maintain dialogue with the Undersecretary of the Interior, César Yáñez, as they believe the meetings have not resulted in concrete solutions.

The leader acknowledged that the main point of conflict remains the country’s trade policy, particularly the government’s refusal to review the exclusion of basic grains from the USMCA Free Trade Agreement, which —he warned— puts the viability of national agriculture and livestock farming at risk.

The notoriously corrupt World Cup organizer FIFA, has been for its secret deals with, and tax breaks from, the Mexican federal and state governments; super-charging gentrification, and awarding a farcical “Peace Prize” for the genocidal zionist President Donald Trump, who recently kidnapped the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in a January 3rd attack.

He questioned the decree imposing tariffs on meat imported from Brazil , arguing that the central problem is not South America, but rather the massive influx of agricultural products from the United States. He pointed out that, despite the announced measures, a quota of up to 70,000 tons of US meat remains in place, severely impacting domestic producers.

“While the United States is selling off its cattle, Mexico is becoming overrun with animals. If this isn’t addressed, our livestock industry will also collapse,” he warned.

In this context, he reported that the Front had been invited to participate in the so-called “advisory group” of the USMCA review process, although he expressed doubts about whether their proposals would actually be considered. “If we’re just going to be there without our opinions mattering, then what’s the point?” he questioned.

“If there’s no agreement, there’s no World Cup either.”

Rodríguez issued a high-impact political warning, stating that without fundamental agreements, the rural sector could disappear. “If there’s no agreement, there’s no World Cup either,” he asserted, noting that while cities like Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City are moving forward with preparations for the 2026 World Cup , millions of rural producers see their capital, their jobs, and a livelihood passed down through generations at risk.

As part of the movement’s strategy, it announced that a national meeting between academics, students, consumers and the rural sector will be convened in February at UNAM, with the participation of universities such as Chapingo and the Antonio Narro Autonomous Agrarian University, with the aim of broadening social support for the demands of the countryside.

Rodríguez added that the movement now demands a direct channel with the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, to effectively address the security problems faced by the movement’s allied transport workers.

“With César Yáñez, only officials meet, but no decisions are made. We are no longer going to engage in dialogue at that level. We want to speak directly with Secretary Omar García Harfuch to provide real solutions for the transport workers,” he stated.

Rodríguez emphasized that the National Front and the National Association of Transporters (ANTAC) form a single bloc of demands. “We are one and the same. What happens to the transporters is directly detrimental to the peasant movement, and we will defend them,” he stressed.

Finally, he reiterated that the Front and the truckers will remain mobilized until there is a direct response from the federal government at the ministry level, particularly regarding highway safety and fair conditions for grain transport. “This is no longer a temporary issue. We are united,” he concluded.