Mexico will deploy 100,000 police, military and private security forces to secure the 13 games it will host during this summer’s football World Cup, the government said on Friday.
Mexico is co-hosting the biggest World Cup in history, along with the United States and Canada, from 11 June to 19 July.
The government unveiled its security plan less than two weeks after an explosion of violence in Guadalajara, one of the three host cities, triggered by the death of a notorious drug lord.
Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera, leader of the fearsome Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNGC), was killed by the army during a raid on a ranch near Guadalajara on 22 February.
After his death, members of his cartel went on the rampage, blocking roads in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states and torching vehicles and businesses, including in the Jalisco tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta.
At least 74 people were killed during the operation to capture Oseguera and subsequent clashes between the security forces and JNGC gunmen.
FIFA, however, moved quickly to dispel speculation that it could move games out of Guadalajara, set to host four matches.
The head of the world football body, Gianni Infantino, told AFP two days after Oseguera’s killing that he was ‘very reassured’ about Mexico’s hosting of the tournament.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has assured there is ‘no risk’ to visiting fans.
Guadalajara is one of the Mexican states worst affected by drug cartel violence.
More than 12,575 people are reported missing in the state, many of them kidnapped or killed by armed groups.
