Mexico drug cartel violence to force soccer World Cup 2026 matches out of Guadalajara? Here's what FIFA is saying

FIFA is monitoring the situation in Guadalajara, the host city for the 2026 World Cup. This comes as four soccer games in Mexico were postponed after violence flared near Guadalajara ​in the wake of a military operation that left cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera dead. Oseguera, known as "El Mencho" and mastermind of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died in ‌custody after being ⁠injured in ⁠a special forces operation on Mexico's Pacific coast in Jalisco state, according to the defense ministry.

Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, is one of ​three Mexican venues set to host World Cup matches this summer. The ⁠stadium will ‌also host playoff matches between Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia from March 26-31. Mexico City Stadium is the first to host a third FIFA World Cup. Monterrey will host four FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.

Akron Stadium will host four matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 including Mexico's second group stage match. It was inaugurated in 2010 and has a capacity of 50,000 spectators. It has hosted Pan American Games events and a Copa Libertadores final.


"At FIFA Mexico, we are closely monitoring ​the situation in Jalisco and remain in constant communication with the authorities," a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters.

"We will continue to ​follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities."

Soccer Games Suspended in Mexico

The Mexican league ​said on its social media pages that two top-tier games scheduled for Sunday - Queretaro ⁠v FC Juarez in the men's league and Chivas v America in ​the women's league - had been postponed indefinitely. Two second division matches scheduled ​for Sunday were also called off, local media reported.

Sunday's women's match between Necaxa and Queretaro in Aguascalientes was suspended when players fled the pitch after hearing loud noises outside Estadio Victoria, which media reports described as gunshots.

The match later resumed, with Necaxa winning 2-1. The Mexico national team is due to face Iceland on Wednesday in a friendly fixture at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro.

Meanwhile, organisers of the Mexican Open men's tennis tournament in ‌Acapulco said the event would begin on Monday as scheduled under established security protocols.

After reports of ​El Mencho's death, suspected cartel members blockaded highways with burning cars and torched businesses in more than half a dozen states. No civilian deaths were reported.

In Jalisco's popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, frightened tourists on social media described plumes of dark smoke rising into the sky from around the bay.

Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico and American Airlines suspended flights in the area.