As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across North America, Mexico has positioned itself as a proud co-host, showcasing vibrant fan zones in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. El Tri’s progress through the group stages and into the knockout rounds has fueled national celebrations, with packed stadiums and streets alive with cheers. Yet, behind the pageantry and multimillion-dollar security operation lies a darker reality: an entrenched cartel crisis involving tens of thousands of disappearances and ongoing violence that the government appears determined to minimize on the world stage.
The contrast is stark. In host cities, authorities have deployed an estimated 100,000 security personnel, advanced technology including drone jammers, Black Hawk helicopters with snipers, and even Tesla Cybertrucks to create secure perimeters around venues like Estadio Azteca and Estadio Akron. This massive effort aims to project stability and safety to millions of international visitors. Homicide figures reportedly dipped during the tournament’s opening weeks, prompting some analysts to speak of an informal “World Cup truce” among criminal groups seeking to avoid disruptions and instead profit from the influx of tourists through drugs, extortion, and other illicit activities.
However, in vast swathes of the country beyond the cameras, the story is one of fear and exhaustion. Residents in cartel-plagued regions report that public celebrations are largely confined indoors. In villages where gunfire and drone attacks have become commonplace, the excitement of Mexico’s matches takes a backseat to survival. One lime grower from Michoacán, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, said, “I really like football, but we’re nervous.” During recent games, he described hearing cartels launching explosives from drones at nearby targets. Community gatherings and betting traditions of past tournaments have given way to isolation.
The Human Toll: Over 130,000 Disappeared
At the heart of the crisis are more than 130,000 people forcibly disappeared in Mexico in recent years, a staggering number that exceeds many global conflicts. Most cases are linked to powerful cartels like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which dominates parts of Jalisco state—home to World Cup matches in Guadalajara. Families spend days searching ravines, abandoned properties, and suspected “extermination camps,” often finding bags of remains or using rudimentary methods to locate clandestine graves just kilometers from gleaming stadiums.
In Guadalajara’s outskirts, volunteers and relatives have uncovered dozens of bodies near World Cup infrastructure. Raúl Servín, a waiter whose son vanished in 2018, expressed frustration: authorities prioritize beautifying the city for foreigners while families dig in the hot sun with minimal support. Activists have taken to the streets during the tournament, displaying photos of the missing and confronting police, highlighting what they see as a deliberate effort to sweep the issue under the carpet.
The CJNG, once led by the notorious Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, remains a formidable force despite his death in a February 2026 operation. That raid triggered retaliatory blockades, arson, and violence across Jalisco and beyond, raising early alarms about the tournament’s viability in the region. While the immediate chaos subsided, the group’s influence persists, controlling territories through fear, extortion, and sophisticated operations that extend into legitimate businesses.
Other groups, such as La Nueva Familia Michoacana in Guerrero, have exploited the security focus on host cities. In rural communities like Guajes de Ayala, residents warned authorities for weeks about approaching cartel threats. Their pleas went largely unanswered as resources concentrated on urban venues. In July, drone bombings and firefights forced women, children, and the elderly to shelter in abandoned clinics and churches. Mexican officials initially denied the scale of these attacks despite livestreamed evidence from locals.
Government Strategy: Optics Over Eradication?
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has touted declining homicide rates—averaging lower daily figures in 2026 compared to previous years—as a sign of progress. Security analysts note fewer high-profile arrests or major operations during the tournament, possibly to prevent retaliatory escalations. The strategy appears centered on containment in tourist and event zones rather than dismantling cartel structures nationwide.
Critics argue this approach echoes past policies that allowed cartels to expand. The “hugs not bullets” stance under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is blamed by some for enabling territorial gains. Disappearances have remained stubbornly high, with Jalisco reporting significant increases. Families accuse local and federal authorities of complicity or indifference, with some alleging collusion between officials and criminals.
International attention has amplified these voices. Reports from outlets like The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal describe a “cat and mouse game” between activists seeking visibility for the missing and officials eager to maintain a positive narrative. Protests near stadiums and fan zones have highlighted the disconnect: while fans celebrate goals, rural Mexicans face bombardment and abandonment.
Cartels themselves are pragmatic. Experts suggest they are unlikely to launch spectacular attacks on the World Cup, which could invite overwhelming crackdowns and damage profitable sidelines. Instead, they maintain low profiles in host areas while continuing operations elsewhere. This tactical restraint does not equate to peace; violence simmers in peripheral regions, and extortion rackets targeting businesses and locals persist.
Economic and Social Impacts
The World Cup brings undeniable economic benefits—tourism, infrastructure upgrades, and global exposure. Yet, the underlying insecurity hampers long-term development. In violence-affected states, businesses shutter during flare-ups, jobs vanish, and communities live under constant threat. Sinaloa, Michoacán, and Guerrero have seen tourism and local economies suffer from the perception of danger, even as official messaging emphasizes safety.
For ordinary Mexicans, the tournament is bittersweet. National pride swells with each El Tri performance, but many recognize the selective security. One resident in Poza Rica noted deserted streets after matches, with people choosing safety over public revelry. The event underscores deep inequalities: festive urban cores versus fearful hinterlands.
Looking Beyond the Final Whistle
As the World Cup progresses, questions linger about its legacy. Will the global spotlight pressure Mexico into more robust anti-cartel measures, increased resources for searching the disappeared, and anti-corruption reforms? Or will attention fade once the trophies are awarded, leaving underlying problems to fester?
FIFA and Mexican officials express confidence in the event’s success, citing comprehensive planning and cooperation. However, security experts warn that without addressing root causes—weak institutions, poverty, and the vast profits of the drug trade—the cycle of violence will continue long after fans depart.
The 2026 World Cup offers Mexico a platform to demonstrate modernity and hospitality. Yet, the persistent cartel crisis serves as a reminder that true national strength requires confronting uncomfortable truths, not concealing them. For the families of the disappeared and residents in forgotten towns, the real victory would be a safer, more just Mexico—one where celebrations are not overshadowed by fear, and no one is left searching alone in the shadows.
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