Guadalajara (Mexico) (AFP) - The Mexican city of Guadalajara, which will host four matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, is looking anxiously at what lies ahead, after cartel-related violence erupted last weekend following an army operation that killed a prominent drug lord.

Published on: 02/24/2026 - 11:09

The authorities are relying on technology to ensure the security of the city's share of the most prominent sports tournament in the world, while Mexico is hosting the World Cup in three of its cities, along with the United States and Canada.

Drones, anti-drone equipment, and artificial intelligence-based video surveillance systems are some of the tools that the Jalisco state government, of which Guadalajara is the capital, will deploy to provide security.

These preparations come at a time when Jalisco suffers from widespread disappearances and the discovery of mass graves, as Guadalajara is the Mexican city with the largest number of disappearances linked to drug violence.

Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, leader of the "Jalisco New Generation" cartel and one of the most wanted in Mexico and the United States, was killed on Sunday during a military operation about 130 kilometers from Guadalajara.

The cartel responded violently, sparking clashes with security forces that resulted in the deaths of at least 57 people across Mexico, including soldiers and cartel members, in addition to blocking roads in 20 states.

After burning buses and shops, the authorities suspended football matches in Guadalajara and the central state of Queretaro.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) declined to comment on the violence in one of the cities hosting the World Cup.

At the beginning of the week, the streets of Guadalajara remained almost empty, while stores remained closed and classes were suspended in Jalisco. Schools were also closed in about a dozen other states.

Just days ago, the state's security services had confirmed that Guadalajara was "calm."

"Terrible situation"

Jalisco is one of the states with the highest number of disappearances in Mexico, with 12,575 officially reported missing. Cases from the Guadalajara metropolitan area make up more than half of the total.

Many disappearances are linked to forced recruitment for criminal groups, according to Carmen Chinas, a researcher at the University of Guadalajara.

Relatives of missing persons have discovered hundreds of secret graves while searching for their loved ones.

Some activists expressed their dissatisfaction with Guadalajara hosting the World Cup.

“I don’t think there is reason to celebrate,” said Carmen Ponce (26 years old), whose brother Victor Hugo has been missing since 2020. “The situation seems very terrible to me.”

She added, standing in a field where last year she and her mother found plastic bags containing the remains of five people, "The country is celebrating the goals and we are here searching."

Residents are also nervous about hosting matches in a city that has witnessed so much violence.

Juan Carlos Contreras, who is in charge of the city's surveillance camera network, told AFP that protests could erupt from residents angry at the government as they search for their missing relatives.

"Economic hit"

In turn, Misael Robles (31 years old), who works as a tour guide in Guadalajara, told AFP that he had canceled up to 25 tours since the Oseguera violence broke out on Sunday, adding, “The economic blow is huge.”

The authorities found property used by criminal groups a few kilometers from Akron Stadium, which is scheduled to host World Cup matches.

Less than two kilometers from the sports complex, the state prosecutor's office raided a house and arrested two people accused of kidnapping.

AFP saw chains wrapped around metal bars in the abandoned building, with Akron Stadium visible in the background.

Jose Raul Cervin, who has been searching for his son Raul since his disappearance in April 2018, fears that tourists coming to attend the World Cup will fall prey to criminal gangs.

"We don't want anything to happen...like it happened to us," he said.

Servin recalls with nostalgia the memories of his son, who was a football fan. “If he were here, he would be happy with the World Cup,” he said.

© 2026 AFP

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