Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has assured global football fans that there is “no risk” to the 2026 FIFA World Cup following explosive violence triggered by the death of notorious cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
Speaking at her daily press conference on Tuesday, Sheinbaum said there are “all the guarantees” for the tournament to be staged safely.
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The unrest followed a military operation targeting Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He was fatally wounded during a dawn raid on Sunday and died while being airlifted to the hospital.
In retaliation, gunmen blocked nearly 100 major roads and attacked National Guard bases, particularly in Jalisco and Michoacán states. At least 25 soldiers and 34 suspected cartel members were killed in the clashes.
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Host Cities Reopen as Calm Returns
By Monday, the violence had largely subsided, though local media reported isolated incidents in rural Jalisco.
Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s designated host cities, is scheduled to stage four World Cup matches. The tournament, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, will also feature games in Monterrey and Mexico City at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Guadalajara and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, which were heavily affected by Sunday’s unrest, have begun reopening.
“Little by little, the situation is returning to normal,” Sheinbaum said.
A spokesperson for FIFA told Reuters the governing body is closely monitoring developments and remains in constant communication with Mexican authorities.
Security Policy Debate Intensifies
Sheinbaum also signalled she may pursue legal action against tech billionaire Elon Musk after he alleged on X that she was taking orders from drug traffickers, remarks echoing past claims by former U.S. president Donald Trump that Mexico is “run by cartels”.
In a resurfaced 2025 video, Sheinbaum rejected a return to a “war on drugs” strategy, describing it as “permission to kill without any trial.”
Analysts note that previous crackdowns on cartel leaders led to fragmentation and internal power struggles, contributing to high homicide rates since the militarised campaign launched under former president Felipe Calderón.
However, Sheinbaum dismissed comparisons with past security policies.
“We’re looking for peace, not war. That is the difference,” she said.
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