¡Hola amigos! This week, Sheinbaum delivered her strongest rebuke yet of U.S. interference, teachers are digging in for an indefinite strike in Mexico City, and the threat of an air traffic controllers' strike isn't off the table just yet.

Plus, what happens when you move your car to another state, why some Canadians are paying thousands more for property in Mexico, and the Women's World Cup that drew 110,000 fans to Estadio Azteca but FIFA refused to recognize. 

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❓México Trivia

Q: Which Mexican city claims to be the birthplace of the Mexican Revolution, even though historians still debate whether that’s true?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

✈️ Mexico’s air traffic controllers said they will wait for the government’s response to salary and staffing demands before deciding whether to move forward with a strike.

🚨 Protesting CNTE teachers attempted to break through police barricades surrounding Mexico City’s Zócalo on Monday, leaving one person injured.

📚 CNTE teachers declared an indefinite strike on June 1 and vowed to continue protests in Mexico City until their pension demands are addressed.

✈️ Aeroméxico strike averted after flight attendants approved a new wage agreement.

🇺🇸 At her two-year anniversary rally, President Sheinbaum delivered her strongest rebuke yet of U.S. interference, criticizing the DOJ’s indictment of 10 Mexican officials, including a sitting governor.

🤝 The U.S. and Mexico launched new USMCA negotiation rounds ahead of the July 1 joint review deadline.

🇪🇸 Iberia’s new direct flights between Monterrey and Madrid begin today, June 2.

🛩️ Oxfam México has called for new taxes on private jets, luxury yachts, and high-end vehicles.

💰 Mexico’s federal government spent MX$351 billion less than budgeted between January and April, according to the Finance Ministry.

☕ Starbucks México will distribute more than 800,000 coffee plants to farmers in Chiapas, Puebla, and Veracruz as part of an effort to strengthen Mexico’s coffee industry.

⚽ President Sheinbaum gave her World Cup opening match ticket to a 21-year-old athlete from Veracruz who won a national soccer skills competition. Watch the moment here. 

Don't Let Borders Decide What You Can Watch

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Get Proton VPN and stream the World Cup without restrictions

📍Immigration Essentials

Changing Plates When You Move between States in Mexico

When moving to a new state in Mexico, you’re not automatically required to change your license plates. Some states – like Guanajuato – allow you to keep your existing plates as long as you continue paying the annual vehicle tax. There’s no expiration as long as payments are up to date.

However, not all states make it that easy.

Others require annual re-plating or issuing a new circulation card, which may involve returning in person to your previous state to complete the process.

If you choose to officially register your vehicle in your new state, it’s critical to cancel your previous registration first. Each state operates independently, and if your plates remain active in your former state, taxes will continue to accrue. Some foreigners have been hit with back taxes of 10,000–15,000 pesos because they didn’t cancel plates properly before registering elsewhere.

To cancel plates, you'll need to do what's called an “administrative cancellation” in your old state. If you can't go in person, you can authorize someone to act on your behalf using a notarized carta poder (power of attorney), along with your ID, their ID, and two witness signatures.

If you’re re-registering, bring:

• Your original invoice (factura) or title

• Proof of payment for taxes and tenencia

• Circulation card and cancellation certificate (if applicable)

• Residency card or license

• Proof of address in your new state

• Customs documents (pedimento) if the car was imported

Driving between states with mismatched paperwork? You’ll need a temporary permit to legally transport the vehicle – these now last one to three days and must be issued by your local transit office.

While there’s no official deadline for updating your registration, it's best to handle it promptly to avoid tax penalties and headaches down the road. Check with your state for specific regulations.

🧩 Life in México

Why Canadians Buying Property in Mexico Are Paying More

Most conversations about foreigners buying property in Mexico focus on the US dollar versus the peso.

But that's not the currency risk many Canadians should be paying attention to.

In many popular real estate markets throughout Mexico, properties are priced in US dollars. And when the CAD/USD exchange rate moves significantly between signing and closing, the impact can be substantial.

One Canadian buyer recently saw the cost of a property increase by more than $23,000 CAD before closing, even though the property price never changed.

If you're buying, building, or planning a property purchase in Mexico, this is a risk worth understanding.

Read More

🇲🇽 Viva México

The World Cup FIFA Refused to Recognize

Just one year after hosting the men's 1970 World Cup, Mexico gave women's football one of the biggest stages the sport had ever seen. 

In 1971, Mexico hosted Copa 71, a tournament that drew some of the largest crowds in women's sports history. 

More than 110,000 fans packed Estadio Azteca for the final – a crowd larger than many men's World Cup matches and still one of the largest ever recorded for a women's sporting event. 

But FIFA refused to recognize the tournament because women played it.

Known today as the "Forgotten World Cup," the tournament brought six national teams to Mexico. In England, women had been banned from playing on official football grounds for 50 years. In Brazil, the sport remained illegal.

In Mexico, the players became stars.

Crowds surrounded team buses. Fans lined up for autographs. Some teams needed police escorts just to get through the crowds.

FIFA tried to stop the tournament and pressured clubs and associations not to support it. The organizers ignored them.

Instead, they secured two of the country's biggest venues: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara.

The gamble paid off.

Fans embraced it. Mexico opened with a 3-1 victory over Argentina in front of around 100,000 spectators. By the time Mexico reached the final against Denmark, the country was gripped by a football frenzy. Denmark ultimately won 3-0.

The tournament drew unprecedented crowds and media attention, but despite this, the tournament was never officially recognized.

FIFA would not organize an official Women's World Cup for another twenty years.

The footballers paid a price for their success. Members of England's team were suspended; Denmark's championship-winning squad was disbanded; and in Mexico, support for the home heroes quickly evaporated.

Today, thanks in part to the 2023 documentary Copa 71, these pioneering footballers are finally receiving recognition for changing the game, even if history took more than 50 years to catch up.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Why Mexicans Put This Herb in Their Beans

Few herbs divide opinion in Mexico quite like epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides). Its deeply distinctive aroma is polarizing; in fact, its original Nahuatl name, epazōtl, translates to “skunk sweat,” a nod to its intense, musky scent.

Despite this pungent reputation, the herb's flavor is surprisingly complex, with sharp herbal and citrusy notes.

If you've ever had a bowl of traditional beans, you've probably tasted epazote. The herb helps make legumes easier to digest, reducing bloating and gas. This makes it a fantastically functional pairing for frijoles.

Across central and southern Mexico, it's also considered essential in dishes like esquites, quesadillas, and caldo tlalpeño.

But its benefits run much deeper than a comfortable stomach. Beyond the kitchen, healers have traditionally used it to ease menstrual cramps and help calm inflammation associated with respiratory illness.

It is also one of Mexico's oldest remedies for eliminating intestinal parasites. Epazote contains an active compound called ascaridole. This compound gives the herb its distinctive aroma and has long been associated with the herb’s traditional use against intestinal parasites.

It’s also surprisingly nutrient-dense. Epazote is a source of folate (B9), fiber, calcium, and manganese, nutrients involved in digestion, bone health, metabolism, and overall wellness.

In many homes, it's still a go-to tea, brewed up for seasonal colds and upset stomachs.

Be warned: Because concentrated ascaridole can be toxic, medicinal doses and essential oils should be avoided by pregnant women and young children.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Feria Simojovel 2026 – June 8–14, Simojovel, Chiapas 
San Antonio de Padua is celebrated across Mexico on June 13. But in Simojovel, the festivities grow into one of the region’s major annual fairs. Expect concerts, marimba, carnival rides, street food, and a lively family atmosphere throughout the week. More info here.

Classic Truck Norawa – June 12–13, Creel, Chihuahua
Classic trucks and vintage cars roll into the Sierra Tarahumara town of Creel for this relaxed, family-friendly gathering. The two-day event features exhibitions, prizes, and plenty of polished chrome in one of northern Mexico’s most atmospheric mountain towns. More info here.

Gloria Trevi: Celebration – June 12, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Mexican pop royalty Gloria Trevi returns to the new Arena Guadalajara with “Celebration”. Expect a high-energy night packed with her biggest hits, theatrical staging, and full-scale pop spectacle. The show promises more than two hours of singing, dancing, and unapologetic diva energy. More info here.

Desfile de los Locos 2026 – June 14, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
One of San Miguel de Allende’s most colorful annual traditions, the Desfile de los Locos turns the historic center into a day-long street party filled with music, dancing, masks, face paint, and participants dressed as superheroes, clowns, devils, and cartoon characters. More info here.

Expo Gastronómica 2026 – June 25–27, Mexico City
More than 700 brands, chefs, sommeliers, and food industry insiders gather at the World Trade Center for three days of cooking shows, tastings, barismo competitions, and culinary networking. The expo also features kombucha, craft drinks, and a Pabellón Bar & Drinks dedicated to cocktails and spirits. More info here.

Guapea Fest 2026 – June 25–27, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Mazatlán’s Guapea Fest returns with three days of salsa, bachata, kizomba, and Afro-Latin dance events overlooking the Pacific coast. The festival brings together dancers, DJs, live orchestras, workshops, beach parties, and late-night socials, turning the city into one of Mexico’s biggest summer gatherings for Latin dance culture. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Todavía alcanza?
Translation: Can we still make it? / Are we still on time?

This is one of those phrases that doesn't translate literally.

It comes from alcanzar, a verb that usually means to reach or to catch up. But in Mexican Spanish, it often means to make it in time or still have a chance.

It's a useful phrase to know, especially when you're traveling, because the answer can mean the difference between making it in time...or missing your chance.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Valladolid, Yucatán.

In the early morning hours of June 4, 1910, armed rebels rose up in Valladolid, attacked government forces, removed railway tracks connecting the city to Mérida, and briefly took control.

Federal troops were sent in days later. After several assaults, the uprising was crushed, leaving dozens dead in the streets of Valladolid.

Over time, the revolt became known as La Primera Chispa de la Revolución – “The First Spark of the Mexican Revolution.” Supporters argued the bloodshed helped ignite the revolutionary movement that would soon spread across Mexico and contribute to the fall of Porfirio Díaz.

But there’s a twist. Some historians argue the uprising was less a national revolution than a local political revolt tied to rival Yucatecan elites and regional power struggles.

More than a century later, Valladolid still commemorates June 4 as the day the first spark was lit.

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