Chaos erupted outside the opening game of the 2026 World Cup after rampaging protesters clashed with riot police and a man suffered a heart attack outside the stadium.
As the tournament kicked off inside the Estadio Azteca, hundreds of demonstrators had gathered outside the gates of the 87,000-seat venue.
Many are believed to be relatives of those missing in the midst of the country's drug war - which has killed an estimated 400,000 in the past two decades.
Minutes before Mexico kicked off in their clash with 2010 hosts South Africa, protesters began approaching the stadium before attempting to breach the premises.
The unruly mob proceeded to smash up a nearby lorry before hurling flares and stones at police officers.
Riot police swarmed the scene to push demonstrators away from the iconic ground, throwing rocks back in their direction and deploying tear gas.
The disorder is believed to have come from a mob of 200 masked men who broke away from two groups of 800 protesters, according to the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City (SSC).
Around 300 police officers were deployed to move the crowd on.
Protesters began approaching the Azteca before attempting to breach the premises
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Protesters clashed with riot police over deaths in the country's horror drug war
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Police were already on high alert before the World Cup opener
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After the game got underway, an extra layer of riot police were seen protecting the perimeter of the stadium amid fears of further unrest.
In a separate unrelated incident, a man collapsed as he suffered a heart attack while making his way to the stadium.
Videos circulated on social media showing medics giving the individual CPR after he fell ill.
He was swiftly rushed to a nearby hospital, where he is stable condition, according to the SSC.
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Police were seen forming up to battle unruly mobs of demonstrators
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It is understood that eight separate protests in Mexico City were planned ahead of the World Cup opening fixture.
In addition to the grieving drug war families, groups who had organised demonstrations included public workers from a host of sectors, including education, transport, healthcare and farming.
Mexico City's government head Clara Brugada Molina rejected calls to outlaw the gatherings prior to the major event.
"This is a city where these events can coincide," she declared.
Some managed to breach fencing around the stadium ahead of the game
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Ms Molina said: "There is a right to protest as well as to experience the joy of living a World Cup."
As violence erupted outside the stadium, spectators inside were treated to an eventful afternoon as Mexico kicked off the campaign with a dramatic 2-0 win against South Africa.
Goals from Quinones and Jimenez did the job but the headlines will be dominated by the flurry of red cards.
Sithole, Zwane and Montes were all shown their marching orders to make it a memorable start to the competition - and a pub quiz answer years down the line.
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