The upcoming World Cup is set to take place across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has issued an important warning for American tourists planning to attend the event in Mexico due to safety concerns.
According to FIFA, thirteen matches will occur in Mexico. The U.S. Embassy has highlighted that safety risks can vary significantly by region within Mexico, and each state has an individualized travel advisory from the U.S. State Department.
Travelers should familiarize themselves with these advisories and proceed with caution. Locations where games will be held include:
- Monterrey, Nuevo León – four games at Estadio Monterrey.
- Guadalajara, Jalisco – four games at Estadio Guadalajara.
- Mexico City – five games at Mexico City Stadium.
Mexico City, despite being an autonomous region, has received its own advisory from the State Department. The city authorities have deployed almost 100,000 troops to ensure security, especially in the host cities.
Travel Precautions:
For Mexico City, travelers should be particularly cautious due to threats from terrorism and crime. The State Department advises tourists to remain in well-known areas and to be cautious at night. Criminal activities linked to terrorist groups, gangs, and cartels may pose significant risks. Tourists could be targets, so vigilance is crucial.
In Nuevo León, travelers should be aware of terrorism, crime risks, and potential kidnappings. Roads such as Highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D have been identified as locations for armed robberies and carjackings. Traveling these routes after dark is discouraged.
Tourists driving from the U.S. to Monterrey should exercise care while traversing through Coahuila or Tamaulipas. Tamaulipas has the stricter “do not travel” warning due to its safety challenges.
Jalisco is another region where caution is necessary. Travelers are advised to “reconsider travel” due to terrorism, kidnapping, and crime potential threats. Past incidents involving disputes between criminal groups have resulted in bystander casualties. The state is also significantly affected by Mexico’s missing persons crisis, with over 70 fatalities linked to cartel operations.