The criminal cartels cashing in on the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, arrives amid a stark paradox: a global celebration of sport unfolding in the shadow of one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations, the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). In Guadalajara—a city with a legendary football history and now the epicenter of cartel activity—host Annie Kelly speaks with journalist Léon Crasé about how the tournament’s arrival coincides with a moment of extreme state fragility. Despite massive security deployments of 100,000 personnel and military hardware, the real threat isn’t just physical violence, but the deeper collapse of state authority. The recent killing of cartel leader El Mencho, while a symbolic victory, triggered a violent backlash that paralyzed regions and demonstrated the cartel’s reach. Crasé warns that while cartels likely won’t attack the World Cup directly—since it threatens their business model—their grip on Mexico is sustained not just by arms and terror, but by systemic corruption, including politicians under cartel control. The fear isn’t just for tourists, but for Mexico’s sovereignty: a single incident could trigger U.S. intervention, reigniting fears of unilateral military action under a Trump administration. The episode reveals that the real story isn’t just about football—it’s about who truly governs Mexico. The World Cup becomes a stage not just for sport, but for a high-stakes geopolitical gamble.