Schools in Mexico to finish early for World Cup and "extraordinary heat wave"

Children in Mexico will finish school around six weeks earlier this year because of the World Cup and an "extraordinary heat wave".

Normally schools in the country break up for the summer around 15 July.

However the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), who oversee schools in the country, have announced they will bring that date forward.

Now, around 29 million primary and secondary school children in Mexico will break up on 5 June - six days before the first World Cup match.

The start of the next school year was announced to be on 31 August.

Some teachers and parents have said they are not happy about the decision though.

A number of teachers have said they are concerned they will not be able to teach the children everything they need to know for the year in time.

Unhappy parents also said the change of plan would have an impact on planned holidays, and finding childcare whilst they are at work.

Mexico's National Union of Parents (UNPF) - which represents parents in the country said: "Using the World Cup as an argument to cut the school calendar is unacceptable. The education of our children cannot be sacrificed for a sporting event that will be held in only three of the 2,500 municipalities"

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to start on 1 June, with the final on July 19 at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.

Out of the 104 games taking place in the 2026 World Cup tournament, 13 are taking place in Mexico - in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey.

Mexico has already broken multiple high-temperature weather records this year, according to Nasa.

A record temperature of 42 degrees Celsius was recorded in March in Hermosillo in the north-west of Mexico.

More heatwaves are predicted to come in June and July this year.