Mexico City imposes alcohol ban ahead of World Cup match

Mexico City barred alcohol sales in convenience stores, grocery stores and supermarkets in some of its busiest neighborhoods from 3 p.m. Wednesday until 7 a.m. Thursday before the Mexico-Czech Republic World Cup match at Mexico City Stadium. The suspension covered historic downtown Mexico City, Zona Rosa and parts of the Reforma Avenue corridor, but it did not apply to bars and restaurants.

After Mexico’s win over South Korea, more than 700,000 people poured into the streets and turned Reforma Avenue into a late-night party zone beneath the Angel of Independence. The celebration generated about 40 metric tons of waste around the historic center.

Authorities had already been considering limits on alcohol sales in public spaces after the South Korea celebration, and César Cravioto, Mexico City’s government secretary, said the city needed to stop illegal street alcohol sales. The latest restriction was narrower than a blanket ban, focused on the hours surrounding the match and the retailers feeding street drinking. It also left room for licensed nightlife businesses to keep serving customers inside bars and restaurants.

Public drinking is not permitted in Mexico, yet the previous celebrations still spilled across the capital’s main avenues, with green jerseys, singing crowds and street partying running late into the night. The city added more personnel to watch beer sales by street vendors and extended enforcement to the sidewalks.

President Claudia Sheinbaum had called it “strange” in March to prohibit alcohol sales across the entire 2026 World Cup, while saying alcohol would be restricted at the FIFA Fan Fest in the Zócalo.