World Cup in Mexico: The Real Security Risk Isn't Violence

Guadalajara will host four 2026 World Cup matches in Jalisco, a region controlled by the CJNG, a major criminal organization. Mexican authorities have increased security, but the actual threat isn't stadium attacks. Instead, the CJNG runs businesses that demand illegal payments from construction firms, vendors, and logistics companies—the supply chains that expand around major events. For national teams and sponsors, operating here means accepting informal protection payments as a cost of doing business.