Guadalajara: World Cup host city rocked by narco violence

A man rides a bicycle past the Guadalajara Cathedral and a FIFA World Cup countdown during a wave of violence over a drug lord’s death, in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 23, 2026. An outpouring of cartel violence in theWorld Cup host city of Guadalajara, triggered by the death of the country’s biggest drug baron, has cast a shadow over Mexico’s preparations for the football extravaganza. Mexico’s second-biggest city erupted at the weekend, alongside other parts of Mexico, after Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed in an army raid.

Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, is one of three Mexican cities, along with Mexico City and Monterrey, that will host games in the World Cup, being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11. But the city was under quasi lockdown at the weekend as cartel members went on the rampage over the death of their boss, blocking roads, torching vehicles and businesses and engaging security forces in gunbattles. Two days of violence, beginning with the deadly raid to capture Oseguera at a ranch 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Guadalajara, left at least 27 security force members and 46 suspected cartel members dead.

On Tuesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted that there was “no risk” to fans attending four World Cup games in Guadalajara in June, offering “full guarantees” for their safety. Football’s world governing body FIFA has declined to comment on the bloodshed, which had largely abated by Monday. But in an ominous sign for the sport, two football games in Jalisco – a second-division fixture and a top women’s football league game – were called off Sunday over the violence.

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Mexico is banking on technology – including systems to combat the growing number of drones deployed by drug cartels – to keep its slice of the planet’s premier sporting event safe. But the specter of violence looms large over the preparations.

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