Mexico announced Friday it will station nearly 100,000 police, soldiers and private security guards across its three World Cup host cities to protect fans and players this summer. President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the details at a military base in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara, one of the venues hit by recent cartel violence.
The plan covers Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, which together will stage 13 matches, including the tournament opener on June 11 at Azteca Stadium in the capital. The monthlong event runs from June 11 to July 19. Sheinbaum presented Plan Kukulkan — named after a Mayan serpent deity — just days after violence flared in Guadalajara and other areas following the death of cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
The strategy includes 20,000 military personnel from the army, air force and National Guard, plus 55,000 police officers and staff from private security firms, for a total of just over 99,000 people. General Román Villalvazo Barrios, head of Mexico’s World Cup coordination center, outlined the deployment during the Friday briefing. It features around 2,500 military and civilian vehicles, 24 aircraft, anti-drone systems and dogs trained to detect explosives.
The operation will also cover nearby tourist spots and includes coordination with the United States and Canada, the other co-hosts. Oseguera, founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died February 22 after a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. He was wounded in the raid and succumbed to injuries while being flown to Mexico City.
His body was handed over to family and buried Monday in a gold-colored coffin at a cemetery near the Zapopan military base where Sheinbaum spoke. News of his death triggered immediate retaliation. Cartel members set up roadblocks in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states, torched vehicles and businesses in Guadalajara and the resort town of Puerto Vallarta and clashed with security forces. More than 70 people died in the initial operation and subsequent violence.
Mexico City and Monterrey saw no such unrest. Both FIFA and Mexican officials have stressed the incidents will not affect the tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino told Sheinbaum in a phone call that he felt reassured about Mexico’s preparations. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch met with FIFA representatives earlier this week to review plans.
Guadalajara will host four matches. Sheinbaum and Infantino have repeatedly said fans have nothing to fear. Mexico expects millions of visitors. Villalvazo said the goal is to project a secure country while addressing any threats to national security. The plan draws on existing security structures and adds specialized units for stadiums, airports, hotels and fan zones.
Officials say the deployment will remain in place through the final whistle in July.
