Concerns Rise Over Violence in Mexico Ahead of World Cup
Recently, hundreds of body bags have been uncovered in makeshift graves in Guadalajara, a city facing intense violence following the death of a cartel leader. This unsettling situation arises just months before important World Cup matches are set to take place in Mexico.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, and a stronghold for the infamous Jalisco New Generation cartel, has seen over 20 graves discovered since last year. The cartel was previously led by El Mencho, who was killed by Mexican authorities recently.
More than 500 bags of remains have been located in just four of the numerous grave sites, some alarmingly close to Akron Stadium, one of the World Cup venues.
This grim discovery coincides with a surge in violence linked to the cartel, which has resulted in around 70 deaths, causing concerns among fans, locals, and teams as the international tournament approaches.
In Mexico, approximately 130,000 individuals have gone missing, which represents a staggering increase of 200% over the past decade, with many disappearances believed to be tied to cartel activity.
Jaime Aguilar from a volunteer search group remarked, “In Jalisco, missing people are disappeared. This is to avoid being found out. They want to erase all traces of the missing person.”
Between February and September 2025, around 270 bags containing human remains were found in Las Agujas, a significant mass grave site in Zapopan, a neighboring city to Guadalajara.
Since construction workers made the initial discovery, additional remains have surfaced, such as 48 bags exhumed from a hidden site in Zapopan last October.
All of these findings are drawing attention not only for their tragic nature but because they are occurring near the World Cup stadium. Despite the distance, there is heightened concern surrounding the tournament.
Jalisco has experienced some of the worst cartel violence recently, including the discovery of a murder scene at a notorious extermination camp known as the Izaguirre Ranch last March.
This week saw unrest erupt in 20 out of Mexico’s 32 states following the removal of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho.” In the aftermath, cartel members rampaged, leading to at least 70 fatalities, including 25 military personnel.
Despite the upcoming World Cup, many locals in Guadalajara express skepticism about hosting the event. Hugo Perez, a local restaurant owner, voiced his doubts: “I don’t think the World Cup should be held here. We have so many problems and they want to invest in the World Cup? There’s so much violence going on and it’s not a good idea.”
A friendly match between the Portuguese national team and Mexico is scheduled for the end of March, with the Portuguese Football Federation stating it’s “closely monitoring the delicate situation.”
The Mexican government assures that international events co-hosted by Mexico, the U.S., and Canada won’t be impacted. President Claudia Sheinbaum has stated there is “no risk” and promised “every guarantee” for fans. Jalisco Governor Jesús Pablo Lemus reiterated that there are no plans to change any of the venues for the tournament.
