Tournament is in danger of cancellation in Mexico and the US has been criticised for hostility against foreigners
The 2026 World Cup is in danger of being cancelled in, or at least moved away from, Mexico after regions of the country fell into chaos following the killing of a local cartel leader by the government.
Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), who was killed by Mexican security forces this week after years of notoriety.
In response, his supporters set up blockades and began to attack and burn shops. Two football matches have already been postponed, raising questions over whether football’s showpiece event can still be hosted in the country just four months from now.
There has been some positive news on that front after the Mexican football federation said that the country’s friendly game against Iceland, scheduled to be played at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro on Wednesday, will go ahead.
However, Fifa is closely monitoring the events and should hostilities continue, it may be difficult to see how June’s tournament goes ahead.
This comes after former Fifa president Sepp Blatter blasted the US, saying it does not deserve to be a host nation due to its hostility towards foreigners.
The US is one of three North American countries hosting the event, alongside Canada and Mexico. However, the US under Donald Trump’s government has also established an armed task force called ICE for the purpose of expelling people from the country.
Late last year, the US placed travel bans on various countries around the world, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran and Haiti, four countries who have qualified for the World Cup and whose fans will be needing visas to travel to support their teams.
Blatter, who was Fifa president from 1998 to 2015, said: “In this World Cup, the great profiteer will be the United States, but not the spectators. A World Cup should not be organised in a country that does not grant visas.”
