Mexico cancels the reduction of the school year.

The Mexican government announced on Monday the cancellation of the decision to shorten the school year due to the 2026 World Cup, following widespread angry reactions from parents, research centers, and local authorities.

Mario Delgado, the Minister of Education, had announced on Friday that the school year would end about 40 days early, on June 5, justifying this reduction due to a heatwave.

On Monday, officials from the education sector and other government departments met to listen to parents' opinions and consider available options, in a meeting called by President Claudia Sheinbaum, who expressed doubts about the proposed reduction.

During the meeting, it was agreed to keep the school year unchanged, ending as scheduled on July 15, followed by a six-week holiday until August 31.

The World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, will kick off on June 11 with a match between South Africa and the host Mexico in Mexico City.

Sheinbaum added, "The idea is to keep the holiday period at six weeks, as usual... and some students may start school early, while others continue studying according to the previous schedule."

She continued, "The goal is to reach a consensus decision. Now, we need to listen."

Two states have already rejected the plan.

Classes in Jalisco state schools will be suspended for only four days, which is the period during which Guadalajara, the state capital, will host World Cup matches.

Meanwhile, the governor of Nuevo León, where Monterrey will host four matches, stated that its schools will adhere to the original school schedule.

Parents have also questioned this measure, which, according to the research center "Mexico Evalúa," will cause students to fall behind academically.

The "Mexico Evalúa" center wrote in a report: "This decision... will reduce the actual learning time for 23.4 million students."

Sheinbaum also ensured the provision of the necessary "security conditions" for the matches, in addition to completing public works projects that began before the football event, particularly the expansions at Estadio Azteca and Mexico City International Airport.