‘FIFA is closely monitoring situation’
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has declared there is “no risk” to fans coming to the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after violence erupted following the killing of Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguerain, in Jalisco State.

Sheinbaum’s declaration came, just as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, said late on Tuesday that he was feeling “very calm” about Mexico hosting this summer’s tournament.
The Mexican President said: “All the guarantees” for safety were in place for the 2026 World Cup, which is expected to draw hordes of fans from around the world to matches in Mexico City, Monterrey and Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara.”

She emphasised that the situation was normalising, with security forces working to safeguard the public, after loyalists of cartel leader Oseguera set up roadblocks and torched buses and stores across the country in retaliation for his slaying in a military raid on Sunday.

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus has reaffirmed the state’s participation in the World Cup and confirmed a series of upcoming 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,” Lemus said.

Mexico is set to host 13 of 104 World Cup matches. Four of these are set to be held in Guadalajara. It will also host some preliminary warm-up matches before the tournament opens on June 11.

Some local league matches in Mexica were postponed on Sunday, the day cartel members coordinated a series of violent attacks across the country in the aftermath of an operation to capture Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.”

Meanwhile, FIFA President Infantino said: “Everything is going to be spectacular.”

A spokesperson for FIFA said the organisation was closely monitoring the situation and was in close contact with the authorities.

“We will continue to follow 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,” the spokesperson said.