On day one of the World Cup on June 11, all eyes are on Mexico. Mexico City will host the opening match of the tournament, Mexico vs. South Africa, followed by a night game in Guadalajara.
But Guadalajara is at a precarious moment. In February, the Mexican government took down El Mencho, its number-one most-wanted drug lord, head of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Almost immediately, violence erupted across several states, including gunfire at Guadalajara airport, hijackings, and arson. It was short-lived, but the near future remains uncertain.
Yet Guadalajara is set to host some top-tier matches, including Uruguay vs. Spain, and to be the base camp for teams including Colombia and South Korea. What’s the plan to keep the bustling city safe?
Nathan Jones, Department Chair of Security Studies at Sam Houston State University, and a Nonresident Scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute, helped explain the context and the road ahead.
00:00 Intro
04:31 Who was El Mencho
07:35 Cartels spark chaos
11:41 Mexico’s World Cup security plan
17:31 Trump pressure and optics
19:22 What fans should expect
20:14 Travel safety tips
21:33 Mexican soccer culture
23:23 Final banter
