The death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho", has plunged Mexico back into a spiral of violence, reviving security concerns just months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As the country prepares to host one of the biggest sporting events on the planet, the scenes of chaos observed in several states raise questions about the authorities' ability to guarantee a climate of lasting stability.

A hard-hitting operation with serious consequences

El Mencho, leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was considered one of the country's most wanted criminals. Severely wounded in a shootout with special forces in the state of Jalisco, he died during his transfer to Mexico City.

Although the operation was hailed by the government as a strategic success, its consequences were immediate: a coordinated wave of attacks broke out in some twenty Mexican states.

Burning dams, torched buses, roads blocked by nails and metal spikes, shops and banks reduced to ashes… Images circulating on social media show columns of smoke rising above several cities, temporarily transforming some urban centers into quasi-insurrectionary zones.

In Guadalajara, one of the cities selected to host matches for the 2026 World Cup, panic briefly gripped the airport. Travelers were seen running for cover after rumors of gunfire were heard near a nearby highway.

Authorities quickly denied any shooting inside the terminal, but the episode illustrates the fragility of the security climate in a metropolis expected to receive thousands of international fans.

In Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination in the Pacific, the scenes took a dramatic turn: vehicles set ablaze, black smoke in several neighborhoods, flights canceled and nearly 300 travelers stranded at the airport.

Tourists were asked to remain indoors, with some describing the atmosphere as "like a war zone." A secure convoy was set up to transfer visitors to the city center under police escort.

The events are reminiscent of the 2019 crisis in Culiacán, when the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín Guzmán, provoked clashes of such intensity that the authorities had to release him to avoid a bloodbath.

Since then, violent retaliation by cartels following high-level arrests has become a systemic risk that authorities must anticipate.

A major security challenge ahead of the 2026 World Cup

The Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has declared a "code red" in the state of Jalisco. Public transportation has been suspended, gatherings canceled, and police presence reinforced: the objective is clear—to regain control and reassure both the population and the international community.

Although 90% of the roadblocks have been lifted and 25 people arrested, tensions remain high in the CJNG strongholds.

However, Mexico is not only at stake for its internal stability; it is also at stake for its international credibility. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted with the United States and Canada, represents a global showcase. The Mexican host cities will have to demonstrate that they can offer a safe environment for delegations, fans, and investors.

The capture of El Mencho is undeniably a major blow to organized crime. But the surge in violence that followed highlights a structural challenge: how to neutralize the major cartels without triggering massive reprisals that could tarnish the country's image? With the World Cup just months away, the security issue transcends purely national concerns. It has become a diplomatic and strategic imperative.

Mexico will have to prove that these acts of violence remain isolated incidents and that the state retains control of the situation. Because beyond football, it is the confidence of the entire world that is at stake.