Khaberni - Media reports confirmed that acts of violence that erupted in Mexico have raised a significant level of concern among football fans just months before the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup.
The British newspaper Daily Mail reported that the Canadian government issued travel warnings to the country co-hosting the tournament.
Mexico is preparing to host 13 matches in three major cities: Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey, including the opening match between the Mexican national team and its South African counterpart on June 11.
The newspaper explained that recent events in the city of Tapalpa have disrupted security plans and ignited a new wave of violence following the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico responsible for smuggling methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.
The Mexican army operation led to retaliatory reactions from the cartels, which included shootings and explosions, as well as setting up roadblocks using flaming vehicles in several southwestern cities, including the states of Jalisco, Guerrero, and Michoacán.
These events occur as Mexico prepares to inaugurate the largest edition in the history of the World Cup, which will bring together 48 teams over 104 matches between June 11 and July 19.
The tournament is already facing multiple challenges related to ticket pricing, fan visas, travel bans, and immigration restrictions, while the recent violence adds a new level of security concerns just months before the global event kicks off.
