Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has insisted that her nation will be able to co-host this summer’s World Cup, in spite of the outbreak of gang violence in recent days. Host city Guadalajara has seen gun battles between security forces and drug cartel JNGC following the death of leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’.

A state of emergency was declared in the region of Jalisco, which includes Guadalajara, after cartel members burned buildings and cars, sparking widespread chaos. Speaking on Tuesday, President Sheinbaum insisted that she could offer “all guarantees” about visitors safety for the World Cup and assured traveling fans that there would be “no risks.”

Sheinbaum continued: “The most important thing in all of this is that, as I said yesterday, our objective is security and peace, and that is what we are working on.”

Guadalajara is one of three Mexican cities that is set to host games at the expanded 48-team tournament this summer, along with Mexico City and Monterrey. The Estadio Akron in Guadalajara is also due to host World Cup qualifying games in late March, less than a month away.

Despite Sheinbaum’s optimism about the security situation, FIFA has not yet offered any guarantees that the games will be able to go ahead as planned. Speaking to The Athletic, a FIFA spokesperson said that officials from soccer’s governing body “are closely monitoring the situation in Jalisco and remain in constant communication with the authorities”.

“We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies,” the statement continued, “aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities.”

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.