 "FIFA World Cup matches in Mexico questioned after violence post El Mencho’s death: ‘Can they assure safety?’")
FIFA World Cup matches in Mexico questioned after violence post El Mencho’s death: ‘Can they assure safety?’
Violence has erupted in Mexico after the death of cartel boss El Mencho, forcing football matches to be postponed and raising safety concerns ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico, along with the USA and Canada, is hosting the marquee tournament and violence has erupted close to the host city.
Mexico is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with the United States and Canada in June-July. But recent violence after the death of cartel boss Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, has raised serious concerns among fans about whether World Cup matches in Mexico will be safe.
El Mencho, the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG),
was wounded in Tapalpa, Jalisco, around two hours from World Cup host city Guadalajara, and later died while being flown to Mexico City. After news of his death spread in the country, cartel members reportedly started burning vehicles and blocking roads in several Mexican states, creating a huge law-and-order situation.
The violence also had an impact on sports in the country. Four high-level football matches were reportedly postponed on Sunday. Two top-tier games – Querétaro vs Juárez FC in the men’s league and Chivas vs América in the women’s league – were called off. Two second-division matches were also suspended as a precaution.
Mexico’s national team is scheduled to play a friendly against Iceland at the Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro on Wednesday. As of now, the Mexican Football Federation has not officially postponed the match, but if the violence persists, there is a high chance the match may be postponed, cancelled, or relocated.
Fans raise safety concerns
The unrest has triggered widespread reaction on social media, especially with Mexico set to host matches in the 2026 World Cup. Some users shared videos of smoke arising from the streets of Mexican cities, while others shared photos and videos of heavily armed cartel members dressed in what looked like military-style uniforms allegedly getting mobilised.
We have less than 4 months to the commencement of the FIFA world cup and there are chaos in Mexico already? Can FIFA assure football fans that are going to the US and Mexico that they’re safe?
Was it a mistake to host the World Cup in these countries?
We have little time… pic.twitter.com/W5CBgUXcMH
— JJC (@Johnniejustcome) February 23, 2026
Crazy man el mencho and the cartel may have ruined the fifa World Cup that was gonna be in Mexico what a shame 💔
— V2 (@V2MetaX) February 23, 2026
FIFA literally couldn’t have picked worse countries to host the world cup man. Mexico and the USA are a fucken mess😭😭😭
— Jangle leg (@kwets11) February 23, 2026
This is the country where $FIFA currently plans to hold the first match of the 2026 World Cup.
CA: rY8D3HGVffENSRwHa44tdWwJkU4g81UnGpVJyjipump#Mexico https://t.co/t5bzAr5C4U— Cryptolou (@Cryptoloudev) February 23, 2026
And Mexico is expected to co host the forth coming FIFA world cup. It’s totally unsafe https://t.co/IjJ3T0NQmy
— Olujide Olusola 🇳🇬 (@Jide_Olusola) February 23, 2026
I suggest fifa cancel the Mexico from hosting the World Cup for the safety of the fans
— Desmond Des Des (@jk102801) February 23, 2026
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is scheduled to stage four FIFA World Cup matches in June, including two involving South Korea. Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Colombia are also expected to play there during the tournament.
Despite the tension, not all sporting events have been affected. The Mexican Open, an ATP tennis tournament, is scheduled to begin at the GNP Arena in Acapulco. Organisers have said that the tournament’s operations will continue as normal.
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