2026 World Cup Could Pause Hunt for CJNG Leader

The start of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, could mean a temporary pause in the pursuit of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

According to information revealed by journalist Óscar Balderas, citing a source identified as Leak, the Mexican government has allegedly asked U.S. authorities to refrain from carrying out any capture or neutralization operations against the Michoacán drug lord, at least until after the sporting event, due to the risk of unleashing a wave of violence that would be difficult to contain.

The proposal, according to the journalist, arose after evaluating the consequences that a strike against the CJNG could have in cities hosting the tournament, such as Guadalajara, a region dominated by the criminal group and where a concentration of tourists is expected.

Balderas warns in his article published in Milenio that, in addition, the CJNG leader’s security circle includes not only local hitmen but also elements who allegedly belonged to Russian elite forces (Spetsnaz), in addition to trained bodyguards and state-of-the-art equipment.