Experts, such as security analyst David Saucedo, anticipate a “tacit truce” between the government and organizations like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Amid metal detectors, explosive-sniffing dogs, and a police deployment worthy of a military operation, thousands of fans recently flocked to Akron Stadium to cheer on the Mexican national team in a friendly match against Ecuador.
The football atmosphere, however, contrasted sharply with the other side of Jalisco: a territory where organized crime violence continues to leave deep scars.
While Mexican fans chanted goals in northern Guadalajara, in the south of the city, members of the National Guard guarded volunteers digging for human remains in an abandoned house. It was just another day in the state with the most missing persons in the country: more than 14,000 of the 134,000 cases registered in Mexico.
A World Cup Host City Under the Shadow of the CJNG
Jalisco, with a population of eight million and a crime rate of 234 crimes per 100,000 people, will be one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup. Four matches will be played in its capital, home to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an organization with some 19,000 members and a presence in 21 states of the country. Despite this, no fear was perceived among those attending the friendly match.
“If you don’t get into trouble, nothing happens,” said Javier Rodríguez, an 18-year-old student, as he walked toward the stadium.
How will the authorities handle it?
The CJNG, designated this year by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, has consolidated its power through spectacular attacks against law enforcement, such as the downing of a military helicopter with a grenade or the ambush of the Mexico City police chief.
Although authorities have not revealed the specific strategy for ensuring security during the World Cup, Jalisco’s Secretary of Public Security, Juan Pablo Hernández, announced that the operation will be led by the Army and the Federal Ministry of Public Security, with state support. It is anticipated that between 15,000 and 20,000 personnel will participate in surveillance efforts, and 3,000 additional cameras will be installed, bringing the total to approximately 10,000 throughout the state.
“I don’t think the government will be so imprudent as to arrest a drug lord in the middle of the tournament, nor that the cartel will seek a high-impact attack,” he stated. However, he warned that such a truce will not signify a real pause in criminal activity.
The Other Reality That Won’t Appear in the Promotional Footage
The day before the match, Governor Pablo Lemus boasted about the multimillion-dollar investments Jalisco was preparing to host the tournament: $1 billion and the creation of 7,000 jobs. His message was clear: to showcase Jalisco as “the most Mexican host city of the World Cup.” But not everyone shares that optimism. For groups of families of the disappeared, the World Cup could be a smokescreen.
In Jalisco, the football celebration is being prepared with cameras, military barracks, and excavations. While the world gets ready to celebrate the sport, Mexico faces the challenge of not allowing the ball to obscure the pain that still lingers beneath its soil.
Source: Vertigo Politico
