In a dramatic turn of events, Mexican education officials have reversed their controversial decision to end the school year early for the 2026 World Cup, following widespread public backlash. The original plan, announced on May 7, would have cut the school year short by over a month, moving the final day from July 15 to June 5. Officials cited extreme heat in some regions and the excitement of the World Cup, which Mexico is co-hosting, as reasons for the change.

The decision was initially driven by proposals from Mexico's largest teachers' union, but it sparked outrage among parents and educational experts, who criticized the late modification for significantly reducing classroom time in several states. The backlash was so intense that it prompted an emergency meeting of top education officials from every state, including Mexico City. After hours of deliberation, the group voted unanimously to reverse the decision.

"In response to our president, Claudia Sheinbaum's call to listen to the concerns of parents, caregivers, teachers, and the entire educational community, the school calendar for the 2025-26 cycle will remain unchanged, with the concluding date set for July 15," announced Mario Delgado, Mexico's Secretary of Education, in a social media statement.

While the full month off is off the table, Delgado left the door open for smaller adjustments. Even those who opposed the original change acknowledged that giving students holidays on days when Mexican cities host World Cup matches might be a sensible compromise. "There aren't that many World Cup matchdays. They're days of celebration, but there's no reason to interfere with the rest of the academic calendar," said Juan Carlos Flores Miramontes, Secretary of Education for Jalisco, a host state. "The rest of the year will proceed as planned. Today, we're satisfied with what was a unanimous decision after difficult discussions."