In a chilling development just six months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, authorities in Mexico’s Jalisco state have recovered nearly 500 bags containing human remains in areas surrounding Akron Stadium in Guadalajara — one of the 16 official venues scheduled to host four group-stage matches and the upcoming inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026. Investigators have directly linked the killings to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), widely regarded as Mexico’s most powerful and violent drug cartel, which dominates the region.

The latest mass grave was uncovered in September 2025, adding to a series of horrific discoveries near the home ground of Chivas de Guadalajara. Jalisco now has the highest number of missing persons in Mexico — over 130,000 people are officially disappeared nationwide since the “drug war” began in 2006, with Jalisco topping the list. Between 2009–2018, 7,376 people vanished in the state; the figure jumped to 9,593 between 2018–2021 and continues to rise. Stratfor, a leading geopolitical intelligence firm, describes CJNG as the country’s most aggressive cartel, while US President Donald Trump has already designated it a terrorist organization.

With the World Cup fast approaching, serious questions are being raised about player, fan, and media safety in Guadalajara. Local residents live in fear of nighttime violence, and critics point to deep corruption ties between cartels, police, and politicians. Mexican authorities have promised unprecedented security — including 3,000 additional CCTV cameras, armored vehicles, metal detectors, and thousands of National Guard troops — but many doubt these measures can counter CJNG’s influence. The stadium itself will also host the crucial playoff between New Caledonia and Jamaica next March, with the winner facing DR Congo for a World Cup spot.