FIFA President Addresses Whether Cartel Violence in Mexico Will Affect the Upcoming World Cup

NEED TO KNOW

• After increased violence at the hands of local cartels in Mexico, there were some concerns about if the 2026 FIFA World Cup games in the country would continue as scheduled
• The organization's president Gianni Infantino expressed faith in the country during a press conference on Feb. 24
• While the United States increased security warnings for citizens in Mexico, a shelter-in-place warning was officially called off on Feb. 25

Amid concerns about the current state of affairs in Mexico, organizers are prepared to move forward with this summer's 2026 FIFA World Cup games scheduled to take place across three Mexican cities.

Mexico will co-host the annual soccer competition with the United States and Canada. Planning has been ongoing since the destinations were first announced in 2018. Games in Mexico are taking place in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.

However, there have been worries about the safety of the games due to increased tensions with local cartels following the Sunday, Feb. 22, action that the Mexican government took against the criminal drug cartel group Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

According to a press release from the Ministry of National Defense, the cartel's leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, died in the operation.

His death led to retaliatory action across Mexico, with at least 70 people dying in the resulting violence, The Associated Press reported.

The United States Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place warning on Feb. 22, which was formally lifted on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Despite signs that the violence is easing, some have expressed concerns about whether the games in Mexico would be able to proceed.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24, FIFA's president Gianni Infantino said that there were no plans to reschedule or move the games at this time.

“Of course, we are monitoring the situation in Mexico these days, but I want to say from the outset that we have complete confidence in Mexico, in its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and in the authorities, and we are convinced that everything will go as smoothly as possible,” he said while delivering remarks in Colombia, via AP.

Infantino praised Mexico as "a great country," adding, "things happen."

“That’s why we have governments, police, and authorities who will ensure order and security," he said.

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Thirteen games during the World Cup will take place in Mexico, starting with a face-off between Mexico and South Africa on June 11, according to the official FIFA schedule.

The president of the Colombian Soccer Federation, Ramón Jesurún, expressed confidence in the ability for the games to move ahead as planned, saying that the organization "[knows] they will overcome this and move forward."

Other nations have expressed more reservations.

Michael Ricketts, the president of the Jamaican Soccer Federation, told AP that they'd be monitoring the situation in Mexico leading up to an intercontinental playoff semifinal scheduled there in March.

“We will be listening out for CONCACAF and FIFA to give us instructions [on] whether they are playing the games or whether they are immediately looking for other options," Ricketts said.

A day prior to Infantino's Tuesday press conference, The Athletic reported that the organization was "gripped by worry," citing an anonymous insider. The outlet reported that the internal feelings changed as the day went on.

By Monday, Feb. 23, a spokesperson told The Athletic that there was "full confidence" in the host countries.

“At FIFA Mexico, we are closely monitoring the situation in Jalisco and remain in constant communication with the authorities,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities.”

While FIFA opted out of commenting on "hypotheticals and speculation" about whether the games would be canceled, the spokesperson praised Mexico for "approaching World Cup planning as a matter of national security and national pride," saying that the country has "resourced the planning accordingly."

FIFA did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's for comment on how they will proceed with the 2026 World Cup.

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