FIFA Considers Moving World Cup Matches Out of Guadalajara

 The US isn’t the only 2026 World Cup host to be causing FIFA stress.

Over the weekend, a battle between Mexico and a local cartel erupted in Guadalajara. Members of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) stormed the city's international airport, leading to a flood of videos showing terrified passengers scrambling to safety. While details around the attack remain murky, it has sent FIFA into panic mode.

With the tournament just over three months away, the league will need to make a quick decision on the embattled city’s World Cup hosting duties.

Risk for Violence in Guadalajara Remains High

The weekend’s attack on Guadalajara International Airport was not an isolated incident.

The country and city have been fighting the CJNG for some time, and had recently delivered a blow to the cartel. Authorities recently managed to track down and kill the group’s leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.” Reports suggest the leader’s killing sparked the airport attack, and more could soon follow.

Cartels have plagued Mexico for decades, but the violence has been creeping into cities that were formerly considered havens for tourists. That has led many visitors, especially in the US, to avoid traveling to the country altogether.

World Cup Offers National Stage for Cartels

The CJNG’s attack has led to a wave of terror among potential tourists looking to visit the country, and World Cup fans have extra reason to be worried.

Mexican cartels have become far less shy about advertising themselves over the years. The CJNG terrorists were wearing matching black bulletproof vests, which featured the group’s abbreviation on the front. 

The World Cup will provide the biggest opportunity for cartels to make their statements. It will also bring in wealthy visitors from other nations, whom the cartel could kidnap for hefty ransoms. This has fans nervous, even with the country spending a fortune on security for the World Cup.

Could Mexico Be Cut Out of the 2026 World Cup?

Unfortunately for Mexico, FIFA may not feel moving matches out of Guadalajara is enough. They may also look at the country as a whole, given the presence of cartel violence across much of the country. With the international community now aware of the situation, FIFA will face a difficult choice.

FIFA will cite fan safety in its decision, but there are also concerns about the league’s leadership's liability. If they decide to allow matches to take place in Mexico and there is an attack, it would put the decision makers in hot water and could cost them their jobs. 

With the US offering plenty of host cities capable of hosting World Cup matches, FIFA may turn to them. The league has been cozy with the White House, which has been rallying against Mexico over the last year. While the country offers controversy of its own, large-scale cartel violence is not a concern.