{"id":37298,"date":"2026-06-26T11:57:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T11:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/26\/world-cup-festivities-contrast-with-fear-in-mexicos-violence-ridden-regions\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T11:57:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T11:57:29","slug":"world-cup-festivities-contrast-with-fear-in-mexicos-violence-ridden-regions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/26\/world-cup-festivities-contrast-with-fear-in-mexicos-violence-ridden-regions\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup festivities contrast with fear in Mexico’s violence-ridden regions"},"content":{"rendered":"


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CULIACAN, Mexico (AP) \u2014 Much of Mexico world cup<\/span> fun outdoor gathering<\/span>Since the tournament, streets, plazas and fan zones have been filled in the country’s three host cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Kickoff June 11th<\/span>. But in parts of the country plagued by cartel violence, the event is experienced in a different way: with horror.<\/p>\n

In villages and towns across Mexico, where shootings occur almost daily, cheers are mostly confined indoors. There, real-life concerns outweigh World Cup excitement. Mexico advances to finals tournament<\/span>.<\/p>\n

“I really like soccer, but… I’m nervous,” says local lime producer Michoac\u00e1n<\/span>told The Associated Press that it is one of the states with the highest concentration of criminal groups fighting each other. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. He said that during a recent World Cup match, a local cartel was setting off explosives from a drone at a nearby ranch.<\/p>\n

“Before, people used to gather to watch games and place bets, but that’s not the case anymore. … There’s no party here. There’s only fatigue,” he said.<\/p>\n

Further north is Sinaloa’s capital, Culiacan, where there are competing factions. sinaloa cartel<\/span> gave fuel Violence over a period of approximately 2 years<\/span>. It is approximately 1,040 kilometers (645 miles) from Mexico City.<\/p>\n

It could be a completely different world.<\/p>\n

Rather than take to the streets, many residents seek quiet places, gather at friends’ houses, or go to the few pubs where matches are held, forgetting, even for a few hours, that their lives are shaped by violence. <\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 Miguel Tanyama, a chef and restaurant owner in a city of 1 million people, had hoped the World Cup would help revive sales after two years of economic crisis caused by fighting, according to official figures. The conflict has caused business closures and the loss of nearly 60,000 jobs in Sinaloa state.<\/p>\n

For the opening match of the World Cup, Mexico defeats South Africa<\/span>when the game started, only two tables were occupied. The situation improved after a few days, but not as much as he had expected.<\/p>\n

“Business is slow. We have reservations, but they are not full, and sales are not as strong as they were for similar events,” he said, adding that “people are running home” as soon as the matches are over due to the violence.<\/p>\n

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On the other side of the country, in Poza Rica, an area along the Gulf of Mexico where cartel violence has recently escalated, the streets were deserted following the June 18 standoff between Mexico and North Korea.<\/p>\n

“No one went out to celebrate,” said Guillermo Nu\u00f1ez, 28, a local soccer player and business owner. He walked his friend home after watching the game together.<\/p>\n

He said the celebrations that once took place after big games have all but disappeared due to fear of going out at night, and many people close to him have changed their habits. this year, 2 journalists were killed<\/span> near his house. \u201cThe violence has taken away my desire to even go out and watch soccer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheinbaum: “People are very happy.”<\/h2>\n

president of mexico claudia sheinbaum<\/span> It had a positive impact on everything at the World Cup. Although pressure from the United States continues on economic and security issues, US Ambassador Ronald Johnson<\/span> He praised the cooperation between the two countries to ensure a successful World Cup, including the deployment of more than 100,000 security forces across Mexico.<\/p>\n

“People are happy, very happy,” Sheinbaum said last week about the World Cup. On Wednesday, she said Mexico was sending a message of “joy, happiness and excitement” to the world by hosting the Games.<\/p>\n

Some fans admitted that one of the reasons they were drawn to the matches was to temporarily forget their country’s most painful experiences.<\/p>\n

“We Mexicans know the value of victory because we have lived through many very painful humanitarian tragedies,” said fan Juan Pablo de los Santos, who celebrated at a rally attended by thousands of people in Mexico City after Mexico’s victory over South Korea.<\/p>\n

normalization of violence<\/h2>\n

In cities across Tamaulipas, where cells of the Gulf Cartel, the Los Zetas faction, and the Jalisco New Generation cartel operate, many people seem resigned to living in the midst of violence.<\/p>\n

Residents of Miguel Alem\u00e1n, a small town in Tamaulipas state bordering the Texas border, said the situation was improving as the gunfights lasted only a short while instead of lasting hours. The woman, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, said neighbors are now able to sit and talk on their front porches, something that was impossible a few months ago because criminal gangs would kidnap people they saw on the street.<\/p>\n

The Sheinbaum administration has touted its progress on security, pointing to a decline in homicides since taking office in October 2024.<\/p>\n

The Mexican government released the latest figures last week showing an average of 50.4 murders per day from January to May, the lowest number in a decade for the period. In June, the daily average dropped to 39 cases. <\/p>\n

Few would dispute that the numbers reflect an improvement. However, analysts point out that: people keep disappearing<\/span> And despite the decline in homicides, violence remains acute in some parts of the country.<\/p>\n

After decades of violence, fear is deeply rooted here.<\/p>\n

“It calms things down a little bit because people who are involved in organized crime are sitting and watching football,” said Josias Ramirez, who works at a maquila in Matamoros, Texas, next door to Brownsville.<\/p>\n

But the reality remains the same, he said. \u201cFear is ever-present because we live in a border society where crime continues to occur in broad daylight.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is located 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the southwest in the city of Uruapan in Michoac\u00e1n state. the mayor was assassinated<\/span> Almost eight months ago, after Mexico’s victory over South Korea, hundreds of young people put aside their fears and took part in celebrations under the watchful eye of security forces. <\/p>\n

Maria Luisa Garcia, 19, said, “I thought it was dangerous because of all the things going on, but when I saw people going out, I felt confident.”<\/p>\n

“Young people keep putting themselves in dangerous situations… They know that eventually one of them will get into trouble and maybe die, but they like to party,” said Juan Carlos Mora, a berry farmer in Uruapan. “It’s the same thing every day. Today it wasn’t my turn, but tomorrow I don’t know.”<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Verza reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Alba Aleman in Xalapa, Veracruz, Alfredo Pe\u00f1a in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, and Armando Solis in Uruapan, Michoac\u00e1n contributed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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CULIACAN, Mexico (AP) \u2014 Much of Mexico world cup fun outdoor gatheringSince the tournament, streets, plazas and fan zones have been filled in the country’s three host cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Kickoff June 11th. 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