The Mexican president says 100,000 security guards will be deployed at the upcoming football tournament.
Published on 6 March 2026
President Claudia Sheinbaum has unveiled plans to deploy 100,000 members of Mexico’s security forces at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sheinbaum made the announcement during a visit Friday to a suburb of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state.
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The region has been hit by a wave of violence since Mexico launched a deadly military operation on February 22 against cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire.
Scheinbaum used his remarks to reassure the public that Jalisco and all of Mexico will be safe, especially as security concerns increase ahead of the World Cup.
“We are here … for everyone in Jalisco, for all the people of Jalisco, we are together, we are working for peace, security and the well-being of the residents of this beautiful state,” Sheinbaum said with members of his security cabinet.
Mexico is set to host World Cup matches in three cities: Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey. A total of 13 matches will be played between the three venues.
But a recent spate of violence has raised questions about security in Mexico. Officials have tried to reassure FIFA officials and potential travelers that the tournament will be safe.
The World Cup starts on June 11 and is co-hosted by the United States and Canada. The first leg kicks off in Mexico City, followed by the second leg in Guadalajara on the same day.
Gen. Roman Villalvazo Barrios, head of Mexico’s World Cup coordination center, said the country’s security plan includes 20,000 military personnel, including National Guard troops, and 55,000 police officers.
“This gives us a total of 99,000 personnel,” Barrios said, adding that the government is also coordinating with its co-hosts on security.
“For Mexico, (the World Cup) entails two challenges: to present a credible and secure country before the international community and to have the ability to counter any threats that undermine national security,” Barrios added.
El Mencho’s death last month comes as Mexico faces pressure from the US to aggressively combat cartels within its borders.
El Mencho was a leader in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and his assassination prompted reprisal attacks across Mexico.
Still, critics have questioned the increasing use of Mexico’s military in law enforcement efforts.
During the tenures of Scheinbaum and her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexican military forces have assumed a greater role in governance and public security, despite concerns from rights groups about corruption and human rights abuses.
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