Dödandet av knarkkartellledaren Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, känd som 'El Mencho', har utlöst omfattande våld i Mexiko, vilket lett till uppskjutna fotbollsmatcher och ökad oro för säkerheten inför FIFA VM 2026. Guadalajara, som ska stå värd för fyra gruppspelsmatcher, har sett vägspärrar, brinnande fordon och utrop av röd alert. Experter varnar för potentiell instabilitet, även om vissa pekar på kartellernas ekonomiska intressen i ett fredligt mästerskap.
På söndagen dödade mexikanska militära styrkor Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias 'El Mencho', ledaren för Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), i en operation i Tapalpa, Jalisco-staten. Kartellen, som uppskattas ha tiotusentals medlemmar och verksamhet i 21 av Mexikos 32 delstater, svarade med skottlossningar, vägspärrar och anlagda bränder i minst ett dussin regioner, inklusive Guadalajara. Videor visade beväpnade män som patrullerade gatorna och rök över städerna, med minst 25 nationalgardister dödade inom 24 timmar. The violence prompted a code red security situation in Jalisco, where public transportation was suspended, in-person classes halted, and mass events banned on Sunday and Monday. Guadalajara, home to over a million people and set to host four World Cup matches at Estadio Akron—including South Korea against a playoff winner on June 11, Mexico versus South Korea on June 18, and Uruguay against Spain on June 26—activated a red alert protocol, closing bars and restaurants. Football was directly affected: the women's Clásico Nacional between Chivas de Guadalajara and Club América was postponed, as was the men's Liga MX match between Querétaro and Juárez, plus two second-division games. The Mexican Football Federation cancelled a friendly between Mexico and Iceland scheduled for Wednesday at Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro. Experts offered mixed views. Javier Eskauriatza, assistant professor of criminal law at the University of Nottingham, noted, “When you push down on the cartels you do get pushback - the danger is that it can be very difficult to manage a security situation that spirals out of control.” He added that cartels have an economic stake in the World Cup, owning businesses that benefit from tourism. However, Monica Serrano Carreto, professor at El Colegio de México, warned of a “risk that this leads to a new period of instability,” citing the cartel's access to advanced weapons. The US government advised citizens in Jalisco to shelter indoors, while Canada cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta airport. The UK urged extreme caution. FIFA has not commented, but its Mexico executive director, Jurgen Mainka, stated in November 2025 that security protocols with the government ensure safety for fans, teams, and officials. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized coordinated security efforts with host cities. Despite the unrest, the Mexican Open tennis tournament in Acapulco proceeds as normal. The violence underscores long-standing concerns, recalling incidents like the 2011 gun battle outside Santos Laguna's stadium and the 2019 Culiacanazo.
