Guadalajara cartel clashes put Mexico’s World Cup security under scrutiny | OneFootball

Violent street clashes in Guadalajara after cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera, known as El Mencho, was killed by the Mexican army have thrown Mexico’s World Cup security into focus, four months before 11 June-19 July and a month before play-offs.

According to L'Équipe, buses and lorries were torched, with shops, banks and petrol stations set ablaze by gunmen, as Jalisco New Generation Cartel members mounted urban roadblocks. Oseguera was shot dead roughly two hours south of the host city.

On Monday the city of 5.5 million felt like a ghost town. The Chivas stadium, 49,000 capacity, is due to stage Mexico v South Korea on 18 June, Spain v Uruguay on 26 June and Colombia v a play-off entrant on 23 June.

Guadalajara also hosts March play-offs, New Caledonia v Jamaica on 26 March, then the winner against the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a finals berth. To bolster security, 10,000 troops have been deployed to the region.

Four men’s and women’s league fixtures were postponed on Sunday, and during Necaxa v Querétaro players sprinted to the tunnel after hearing reported gunfire nearby. Mexico’s friendly against Iceland on Wednesday in Querétaro is still on, with cartel activity rising about 350 kilometres away.

A travel advisory on Sunday urged French nationals in Jalisco to exercise maximum caution and remain indoors, raising concerns for visitors. Security specialists warn it could be hard to guarantee safety during the tournament, though others argue reinforced perimeters and an informal truce could limit risks.

Source: L'Équipe