The 2026 World Cup faces mounting security concerns after violent cartel unrest engulfed Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city and a venue for four group-stage fixtures this summer.
Football matches across the country have already been disrupted, with top-flight games postponed and an international friendly between Mexico and Iceland cancelled by the Mexican Football Federation.
The chaos erupted barely 100 days before the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on June 11.
Estadio Guadalajara is scheduled to host fixtures including a highly anticipated clash between Mexico and South Korea on June 18, followed by matches involving Colombia, Uruguay and Spain.
The expanded 48-team competition, the largest in World Cup history, will see 104 matches played across the United States, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19.
The violence was triggered by the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most formidable criminal organisations responsible for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.
Mexican military forces killed the drug lord during an operation in the municipality of Tapalpa on February 22, according to high-ranking officials who spoke to local media.
His death immediately sparked retaliatory attacks across Jalisco state, with cartel members erecting roadblocks using burning vehicles, a tactic commonly deployed to obstruct military movements.
The 2026 World Cup faces mounting security concerns after violent cartel unrest engulfed Guadalajara
|REUTERS
Street fighting broke out as gunmen blocked roads, torched cars and launched an assault on Guadalajara's airport.
Witnesses described scenes resembling a war zone, with thick smoke rising over the region as armed gang members sought vengeance for their fallen leader.
The Foreign Office updated its travel guidance on Sunday evening, warning British nationals of serious security incidents across Jalisco state, including both Guadalajara and the coastal resort of Puerto Vallarta.
The advisory urges travellers to exercise extreme caution and follow instructions from local authorities, including orders to remain indoors and avoid all non-essential movement in affected areas.
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Estadio Guadalajara is scheduled to host fixtures including a highly anticipated clash between Mexico and South Korea on June 18
|GETTY
British holidaymakers on Mexico's Caribbean coast near Cancun remain outside the danger zone.
The US State Department has instructed American citizens to shelter in place, with some tourists reportedly trapped after crossing the border.
Canada's Global Affairs department has similarly advised against non-essential travel to dozens of Mexican regions, citing high levels of violence and organised crime.
Thirty inbound flights from the United States, Mexico and Canada were forced to turn back mid-air or divert to alternative airports, leaving several thousand tourists stranded in Puerto Vallarta with no means of departure.
England and Scotland’s World Cup fixtures have been revealed in the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC | GETTYFootage shared on social media captured terrified travellers sprinting through Guadalajara airport as armed cartel members stormed the facility.
Puerto Vallarta airport confirmed on X that all international operations and most domestic services had been cancelled on Sunday, urging passengers to remain calm and follow staff instructions.
The airport stated that its internal operations and facilities remained secure under protection from the National Guard and Ministry of National Defence.
Jalisco's Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro declared a code red across the state, suspending public transport, cancelling mass gatherings and halting in-person classes.
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