MEXICO — The Mexican government on Friday, May 8, 2026, announced that the national school year will end over a month early to accommodate the start of the FIFA World Cup 26 and address a regional heat wave.
Okay News reports that Mexico’s Secretary of Education, Mario Delgado, stated the academic calendar would be shortened by 40 days during an announcement in the northern state of Sonora. Delgado said the decision was influenced by high temperatures affecting several states and the logistics of the upcoming football tournament.
“We’re going to end the school year on June 5 because many states are already experiencing high temperatures, and there’s also the issue of the World Cup,” Delgado said. He added that officials are currently considering moving the start date of the next academic year, which is set for August 31, 2026, to an earlier date.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, referred to the announcement as a proposal during a press conference on May 8, 2026. “There is no definitive calendar yet,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s important that the children don’t miss classes either.”
The FIFA World Cup 26 is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026, when Mexico plays South Africa in Mexico City. The tournament is being hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
The Mexico Evalua public policy think tank stated that ending the school year early would impact 23.4 million students. The group stated that the move reduces learning time amid existing educational challenges. The Coparmex business association described the decision as hasty and noted that it would cause disruptions to family schedules and labor productivity.
Officials in the state of Jalisco stated they will not comply with the federal decision and intend to keep schools open until June 30, 2026. In the city of Guadalajara, classes will be suspended only for the four days the city hosts matches to manage local logistical requirements.
