The Mexican president says 100,000 safety personnel might be deployed throughout upcoming soccer match.
Printed On 6 Mar 2026
President Claudia Sheinbaum has unveiled a plan to deploy as many as 100,000 members of Mexico’s safety forces through the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sheinbaum made the announcement throughout a Friday go to to a suburb of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state.
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The realm had been struck by a wave of violence after Mexico launched a lethal army operation on February 22 towards cartel chief Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who was killed in an alternate of gunfire.
Sheinbaum used her remarks to reassure the general public that Jalisco and the entire of Mexico could be protected, notably as safety issues ramp up forward of the World Cup.
“We’re right here … to inform everybody in Jalisco, all of the folks of Jalisco, that we’re collectively, that we’re working for peace, safety and the wellbeing of the inhabitants of this lovely state,” Sheinbaum stated alongside members of her safety cupboard.
Mexico is ready to host World Cup matches in three cities: Guadalajara, Mexico Metropolis and Monterrey. A complete of 13 video games might be held between the three websites.
However the latest burst of violence has spurred questions on safety in Mexico. Officers have sought to guarantee FIFA authorities and potential travellers that the match might be protected.
The World Cup is ready to start out on June 11, and it’s being co-hosted by america and Canada as effectively. The primary match kicks off in Mexico Metropolis, adopted by a second on the identical day in Guadalajara.
Basic Roman Villalvazo Barrios, head of Mexico’s World Cup coordination centre, stated that the nation’s safety plan contains 20,000 army personnel, together with Nationwide Guard troops, and 55,000 law enforcement officials, supplemented by members of personal safety firms.
“That provides us a complete of simply over 99,000 personnel,” stated Barrios, noting that the federal government was additionally coordinating with its co-hosts on safety.
“For Mexico, [the World Cup] entails two challenges: to current a dependable and safe nation earlier than the worldwide group, and to have the capability to confront any threats that undermine nationwide safety,” Barrios added.
The loss of life of El Mencho final month got here as Mexico faces strain from the US to aggressively confront cartels inside its borders.
El Mencho had been a frontrunner within the Jalisco New Era Cartel (CJNG), and his killing prompted retaliatory assaults throughout Mexico.
Nonetheless, critics have questioned the rising use of Mexico’s army in regulation enforcement efforts.
Throughout Sheinbaum’s tenure and that of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexican army forces have taken on a better function in governance and public safety, regardless of issues from rights teams about corruption and human rights abuses.
