Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that there are “all the guarantees” in place for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to proceed safely in the country, despite recent cartel-related violence.
Her remarks came after the capture and death of Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho,” triggered coordinated roadblocks, arson attacks and clashes with security forces, particularly in Jalisco state.
Addressing concerns about risks to international visitors expected to attend matches in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara, Sheinbaum said there was “no risk,” adding that the situation was stabilizing following Sunday’s unrest.
She acknowledged that several new roadblocks had appeared overnight but said security forces were actively working to restore order.
Sheinbaum has largely continued the security strategy of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who emphasized tackling poverty and root causes of violence under the slogan “hugs not bullets.” Asked whether Oseguera’s killing marked a shift in that approach, she said it did not.
“The detention of a suspected criminal with an arrest warrant can generate this type of circumstance, but we are looking for peace, not war,” she said.
In recent years, arrests of high-profile cartel figures in Sinaloa and other states have similarly led to retaliatory violence, including shootouts and vehicle burnings.
Mexico is scheduled to host 13 of the tournament’s 104 matches, including four in Guadalajara, along with several preliminary warm-up games before the World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026.
