Mexico City, June 11, 2026 — Raul Jimenez led Mexico in a victorious start to its FIFA World Cup 2026 journey, scoring the second goal in a match against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium. Mexico, co-hosting the event with the United States and Canada, is reportedly witnessing a decline in cartel violence.
Security analyst David Saucedo discussed the situation with Aristegui Noticias, highlighting how drug cartels may have agreed to a tacit “World Cup truce.” Although there’s no public record of a formal agreement, Saucedo shared insights with the New York Post, noting decreased homicide rates in cartel-heavy cities since the tournament began.
Mexico started its hosting duties with a win over South Africa on June 11, recording its lowest daily number of murders since President Claudia Sheinbaum’s tenure began in October 2024, according to government data. Five days later, the daily count further dropped to 27, marking a decade low. Cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara, where several matches are played, reported minimal homicides.
Monterrey, hosting four matches, reported zero homicides. Saucedo attributed the calm to suspension of major law enforcement operations targeting cartel leaders. He explained that restraining actions against traffickers prevents retaliatory violence during the World Cup.
Earlier, in February 2026, the death of cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera-Cervantes in a military operation led to chaos, resulting in 70 deaths and widespread arson by cartel gunmen. The Associated Press questioned Mexico’s capability in ensuring World Cup safety amid the upheaval. Guadalajara responded robustly by deploying approximately 15,000 security personnel, including armed National Guard troops stationed around stadiums.
Despite previous incidents like a bus set ablaze in Jalisco after a federal operation targeting cartel members, the current period has shown decreased violence. Jalisco, home to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, faced turbulent episodes of violence but remains one of the World Cup match locations.