Body-Painted Animal Defenders to Urge World Cup Fans to Go Vegan
For Immediate Release:
June 5, 2026
Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382
“Score for Animals, Go Vegan!” That’s the message that about two dozen animal defenders from around the world—each body-painted in the flag colors of countries competing in the FIFA World Cup—will deliver to crowds outside Mexico City’s iconic Palacio de Bellas Artes on Tuesday, urging everyone to spare animals from suffering by going vegan. The action takes place two days before the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City and is a collaboration among PETA entities, Animal Heroes, and Mexico Save Movement.
“Behind every meaty meal is an individual who felt pain and fear, loved their family, and didn’t want to be killed for a fleeting taste,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “As the World Cup kicks off, PETA is encouraging everyone to score a hat trick for animals, the planet, and their own health by choosing delicious vegan foods.”
Where: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Juárez Avenue, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Mexico City
When: Tuesday, June 9, 12 noon
Why: Cows develop friendships, chickens form complex social structures, and pigs recognize their own names—but in today’s meat, egg, and dairy industries, the animals are raised in filthy, crowded conditions, trucked to slaughterhouses in all weather extremes, and violently killed.
In addition to sparing nearly 200 animals every year, each person who goes vegan also bolsters their own health, as vegans are less likely to suffer from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Going vegan also dramatically reduces one’s carbon footprint, as animal agriculture is a leading cause of water pollution and land degradation. PETA’s free vegan starter kit can help those looking to make the switch.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
