By Damilola Oluwaje
Mexico vows to ensure World Cup security after cartel boss killing sparks violence, with Sheinbaum saying there are “all the guarantees” for the tournament to proceed safely.
The Mexican military attempted to detain “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a dawn raid on Sunday. A firefight followed, during which he was fatally wounded and later died while being airlifted to the hospital.
Supporters of El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, responded by blocking nearly 100 major roads and attacking national guard bases, especially in the states of Jalisco and Michoacán. At least 25 soldiers and 34 cartel gunmen were killed in the clashes.
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By Monday, most of the violence had subsided, though local media reported further incidents overnight in rural parts of Jalisco state.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is set to host four matches during the 2026 FIFA tournament. Mexico is co-hosting the competition with the United States and Canada. Other Mexican host cities include Monterrey and Mexico City, where games will be played at the Azteca Stadium.
Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference that security preparations for the global football tournament remain on track.
“Little by little, the situation [in Jalisco] is returning to normal,” she said.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told AFP he was “very reassured” about Mexico’s role as host.
“Everything’s good. It’s going to be spectacular,” Infantino said in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Sheinbaum also said she was considering legal action against tech billionaire Elon Musk after he alleged on X that she took instructions from drug traffickers. His comments echoed past claims by Donald Trump that Mexico is “run by cartels.”
In a 2025 video referenced online, Sheinbaum said a return to a “war on drugs” was not an option.
“The war against the narco is outside of the law,” she said. “Because it is permission to kill without any trial.”
Past crackdowns on cartel leaders have sometimes led to internal power struggles within criminal groups, contributing to high homicide rates since former president Felipe Calderón launched a military offensive against drug cartels two decades ago.
Sheinbaum rejected comparisons with earlier strategies.
“A situation arose in which, during the arrest of a member of an organised crime group who had an arrest warrant out against him, members of the army were attacked and responded, and he died during transport,” she said.
“We’re looking for peace, not war,” she added. “That is the difference.”
(The Guardian UK)
