Mexico’s Sheinbaum pledges robust World Cup security in visit to Jalisco

The Mexican president says 100,000 security personnel will be deployed during upcoming football tournament.Published On 6 Mar 2026President Claudia Sheinbaum has unveiled a plan to deploy as many as 100,000 members of Mexico’s security forces during the FIFA-world-cup" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="2382" data-entity-type="event">2026 FIFA World Cup.Sheinbaum made the announcement during a Friday visit to a suburb of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Residents raise alarm as violence-hit Guadalajara to host World Cup gameslist 2 of 3Is the US arming Mexican cartels?list 3 of 3Middle East conflict threatens Iraq’s participation in World Cup playoffsend of listThe area had been struck by a wave of violence after Mexico launched a deadly military operation on February 22 against cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire.Sheinbaum used her remarks to reassure the public that Jalisco and the whole of Mexico would be safe, particularly as security concerns ramp up ahead of the World Cup.“We are here … to tell everyone in Jalisco, all the people of Jalisco, that we are together, that we are working for peace, security and the wellbeing of the inhabitants of this beautiful state,” Sheinbaum said alongside members of her security cabinet.Mexico is set to host World Cup matches in three cities: Guadalajara, Mexico-city" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="1779" data-entity-type="location">Mexico City and Monterrey. A total of 13 games will be held between the three sites.But the recent burst of violence has spurred questions about security in Mexico. Officials have sought to assure FIFA authorities and potential travellers that the tournament will be safe.The World Cup is set to start on June 11, and it is being co-hosted by the United States and Canada as well. The first match kicks off in Mexico-city" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="1779" data-entity-type="location">Mexico City, followed by a second on the same day in Guadalajara.General Roman Villalvazo Barrios, head of Mexico’s World Cup coordination centre, said that the country’s security plan includes 20,000 military personnel, including National Guard troops, and 55,000 police officers, supplemented by members of private security companies.