Mexicans start protests outside of stadium ahead of World Cup opening

The football World Cup kicked off in Mexico City earlier today, but a protest by students and anti-establishment groups unfolded near the City's stadium.

Demonstrators from a number of local universities marched towards the venue, criticising the Mexican government for the cost of hosting the tournament and other social issues. Some protesters attempted to push through police lines, while others threw stones and other objects at officers.

Police responded with explosive noisemakers and other crowd-control devices. Riot police eventually moved to disperse the demonstrators and stopped them from reaching the fans arriving for the opening game.

Separately, relatives of missing people also marched towards the stadium, carrying photos of their loved ones. They demanded justice and expressed hope that the tournament's spotlight would help draw attention to one of Mexico's main human rights crises.

The country has more than 130,000 people officially registered as missing or disappeared, according to government data. Relatives have long accused authorities of failing to adequately investigate disappearance cases.