Mexico president says 'no risk' for 2026 World Cup fans

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday there is “no risk” to fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following violence linked to the capture and death of the country’s most-wanted cartel leader in Jalisco state.

Sheinbaum assured that “all the guarantees” for safety are in place for the tournament, which will attract fans from around the world to matches in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.

During her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum said the situation is stabilizing, with security forces actively protecting the public. Violence erupted after loyalists of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho,” set up roadblocks and torched buses and stores in retaliation for his death in a military operation on Sunday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed confidence in Mexico’s hosting of the World Cup, telling reporters, “Everything is going to be spectacular.” A FIFA spokesperson confirmed the organization is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Mexican authorities.

“We will continue to follow the actions and directions from government agencies to maintain public safety and restore normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities,” the spokesperson said.

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the tournament, confirming all planned events in the region. “There is absolutely no intention on FIFA’s part to remove any venues from Mexico. The three venues remain completely firm,” he said.

Mexico will host 13 of the 104 World Cup matches, including four in Guadalajara, as well as preliminary warm-up matches before the tournament begins on June 11.

Local Mexican leagues postponed several matches originally scheduled for Sunday, the day cartel members carried out coordinated attacks following Oseguera’s capture.

President Sheinbaum emphasized that the government’s approach remains focused on peace rather than escalation. “The detention of a suspected criminal can generate this type of circumstance, but we are looking for peace, not war,” she said.

Previous arrests of cartel leaders in Sinaloa have also triggered violent retaliation, including shootouts and vehicle fires. -Reporting by Sarah Morland and Raul Cortes in Mexico City and Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon, Mark Porter and Sonali Paul/Reuters