Mexico confirms World Cup venues unchanged after cartel leader killing

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday thanked FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, for reaffirming that the country’s 2026 World Cup host venues will remain unchanged, following violence that erupted after the killing of a major cartel leader.

Speaking at her morning press conference, Sheinbaum expressed appreciation for FIFA’s public support.

“First I want to thank FIFA and Gianni Infantino,” she said. “Yesterday he made the statement that we have been in contact with him and explaining that there is no problem, and yesterday he said the venue is Mexico, the venues are what they are, and there is no change.”

Clashes broke out in multiple cities after Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, one of Mexico’s most wanted cartel leaders, was killed on Sunday by special forces during an operation roughly 100 miles from Guadalajara.

The violence was particularly notable in Jalisco state, where authorities reported unrest in the days following the operation.

Mexico is due to host 13 of the tournament’s 104 matches, including four in Guadalajara. The country is also scheduled to stage preliminary warm-up games before the World Cup opens on 11 June.

In recent years, arrests or killings of high-ranking cartel figures, particularly in Sinaloa state, have at times been followed by retaliatory violence, including shootouts and vehicles set alight.

Despite the recent unrest, FIFA has confirmed there are no changes to Mexico’s role as a host nation.

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