Mexico’s president has insisted there is “no risk” to fans coming to the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after the killing of a cartel boss sparked days of violence.
Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that “all the guarantees” for safety were in place for the tournament, which will see Mexico host 13 of 104 World Cup matches.
Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, the head and founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed in the state of Jalisco on Sunday by Mexico’s military as they tried to detain him.
His death led to widespread retaliatory violence by Oseguera Cervantes loyalists, especially in Jalisco state, where the group is based and derives its name.
Some 70 people died in the operation and violence that erupted after it, which led to multiple airlines suspending flights to parts of the country.
Guadalajara, the state’s capital, is due to host four of the 2026 World Cup matches, with Mexico City and Monterrey hosting the others.
Jalisco’s governor Pablo Lemus said: “There is absolutely no intention on FIFA’s part to remove any venues from Mexico. The three venues remain completely firm.”
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino told reporters on Tuesday he was feeling “very calm” about Mexico’s hosting this summer’s tournament.
“Everything is going to be spectacular,” he said.
A spokesperson for FIFA said the organisation was closely monitoring the situation and was in close contact with the authorities.
Mexico’s leader said during her daily morning press conference that the situation was normalising, with security forces working to safeguard the public.
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Ms Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, is widely seen as the political protege of former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Until now, she has largely followed his so-called “hugs not bullets” non-confrontational security strategy, which prioritises alleviating poverty and other root causes of violence.
Asked whether the killing of Oseguera Cervantes marked a break from that policy, Sheinbaum said this would never be the case.
“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.
The arrests of other top cartel figures in Sinaloa state have, in recent years, also triggered cartel retaliation, including shootouts and vehicles set on fire.
