President Sheinbaum Dismisses World Cup Fears After ‘El Mencho’ Killing Sparks Bloody Cartel Retaliation

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has issued a defiant “guarantee of safety” to the world, insisting that the violent tremors shaking the country following the death of its most-wanted drug lord will not derail this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Speaking from the National Palace on Tuesday, Sheinbaum moved to calm international nerves after the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes on Sunday plunged several host regions into a state of temporary chaos.

The military operation to take down the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) triggered a “night of fire” across 20 states. In Guadalajara—set to host four World Cup matches—cartel members responded with a brutal show of force, incinerating buses to block major highways and engaging in shootouts that claimed the lives of 25 National Guard members. The violence was so intense that several domestic football matches were scrapped, and schools across the region remained shuttered on Monday.

Despite the charred vehicles still being cleared from the streets, President Sheinbaum remains unmoved. “There is no risk to the tournament or the visitors,” she declared to reporters. “We are looking for peace, not war. The situation is normalizing, and we have all the protocols in place to ensure that the eyes of the world see the best of Mexico this June.”

The timing of the raid is being viewed by many as a strategic “peace offering” to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been ramping up pressure on Mexico to show results against fentanyl trafficking. While the U.S. Ambassador applauded the “unprecedented cooperation” that led to the cartel leader’s death, the bloody aftermath has left fans from Spain to South Korea questioning the safety of the Guadalajara transit corridors.

To back up her “no risk” promise, Sheinbaum has authorized the deployment of 10,000 elite troops to saturate “black spots” and prevent rival gangs from fighting over the fallen kingpin’s territory. For now, the President is betting that a massive security surge will restore a “State of Harmony” long before the first whistle blows at the Estadio Akron.