The wait has ended. The 2026 World Cup is now underway in Mexico City.

The initial days of celebrations have changed the Mexican capital. Mexican flags are displayed on bicycles and balconies. Vibrant orange marigold flowers are visible throughout the city. Areas for fans are being set up, large pictures of Mexican players appear on tall structures, and football jerseys are seen everywhere.

On the streets, in parks, and in cafes, talks focus on the tournament. There is excitement in the air.

As one of the host cities for the world's biggest football event, Mexico City appears energetic, lively, and filled with expectation. The sounds, the music, the aromas, the mood - everything seems heightened.

For the third time in its history, the city is getting ready to greet the world.

Yet, under all this festivity, there is a clear contrast.

For activists, the World Cup's arrival offers a unique chance. The global media has arrived in Mexico in large numbers not witnessed in years, bringing an audience much larger than the nation's borders.

Locals talk about disappearances as a problem affecting nearly every community. Many mention knowing a family impacted by it. Frequent protests have become common in the capital, as relatives seek answers and urge officials to act more.

In numerous instances, those who go missing are thought to have been taken by force by criminal groups or killed for opposing them.

The United Nations has called Mexico's disappearance crisis 'a human tragedy of enormous proportions'.

With the opening match, four more games at the Estadio Azteca, and 13 matches across Mexico overall, activists aim for their message to reach people who might not otherwise encounter it. This is why leaflets have been made in English.

Former Mexico player Joaquin Beltran told the BBC that many in Mexico are "angry with some decisions about government".

Still, he noted the World Cup could offer "a very good space for people who are not satisfied with the things that are happening in our country" to express their views. Beltran said his wish is that "the face we show to the world is a very good one" and that Mexicans "stay calm during the World Cup".

If there is a time to highlight an issue and bring it to the global stage, this is the week.

This attention has also extended to additional demonstrations.

Further along Paseo de la Reforma, close to the offices of two national newspapers, hundreds of striking teachers had assembled under the buildings.

They were demonstrating against their salaries, pensions, and work conditions, with many having journeyed for hours to attend. Local people said other public sector employees had joined in support.

The intentional effort to communicate their message outside Mexico continued, with some protesters translating their chants into English so visiting tourists could grasp what they were advocating.

"We don't want a World Cup," they said. "We just want better pay."

"The World Cup is not made for local people," one protester declared through a megaphone. "It's made for rich businessmen who can afford tickets."

Among many residents, going to a World Cup match is seen as impossible. The idea of having a ticket to a game often leads to laughter.

"Tickets are far too expensive. We could never afford those," is a frequent view.

Instead, many supporters said they planned to go to local bars and fan zones to watch the games and enjoy the atmosphere.

So, as the start approaches, Mexico City is showing itself to the world as a lively and hospitable city that is filled with the thrill of hosting football's greatest event for the third time in its history, the only city to achieve this.

But among the flags, fan zones, and festivities, there are also voices determined not to let the occasion pass without being noticed.

Families looking for missing relatives, teachers calling for fairer pay, and regular citizens questioning who really gains from the tournament.

For the coming weeks, the world's focus will be on Mexico. But the question for many protesters is whether, after the final whistle, anyone will still be paying attention.