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World Cup live: ‘El Tri’ defeats South Africa in first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City

By
MND Staff
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6
Mexico's offense ( Julián Quiñónes and Raúl Jiménez) celebrates after delivering a home-turf win in Mexico City Stadium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup's opening match.
Mexico's offense celebrates after delivering a home-turf win, featuring goals by Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. (Edgar Negrete Lira / Cuartoscuro.com)

Peter Davies, MND’s chief writer, was at Mexico City Stadium today for the opening ceremony and first match of the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup. He and other reporters provided on-the-ground updates from Mexico City throughout the day.

Lives updates concluded at 4:35 p.m.

I’m signing off from Mexico City Stadium, where I’ve spent the last 10 hours. Thanks for following MND’s updates from the stadium. What a day for Mexico! —Peter Davies

A lone fan waits by the exit of Mexico City Stadium after Thursday's match.
A lone fan waits by the exit of Mexico City Stadium after Thursday’s match. (Peter Davies)

Updated 4:29 p.m.

While many fans have left the stadium area, a large number are celebrating Mexico’s victory right next to the arena. Beer and food outlets are plentiful and an impromptu dance party has begun. Some fans are celebrating by being dowsed in beer and flung up into the air.

Mexican fans dance and throw someone in the air as they celebrate their team's win outside Mexico City Stadium.
Mexican fans celebrate their team’s win outside Mexico City Stadium. (Peter Davies)

Updated 4:08 p.m.

A group of fans from South Africa were disappointed with the result but enjoyed the stadium experience and interacting with Mexican fans. They hope South Africa will bounce back in their next match against the Czech Republic in Atlanta next week. —Peter Davies

South Africa fans outside Mexico City Stadium
A group of South Africa fans interview by MND’s Peter Davies. (Peter Davies)

Updated 3:46 p.m.

Fans continue to stream out of the stadium here as light rain falls in the capital’s south. Most will be heading for public transport, especially the light rail, which connects to the CDMX system. Some delays getting onto transport are likely due to the huge number of people at the stadium today (more than 80,000), but from my current vantage point the departure process appears to be running smoothly. —Peter Davies

Gray skies, screens and fans in the parking lot outside Mexico City Stadium
Light afternoon showers greeted fans as they exited Mexico City Stadium. (Peter Davies)

Updated 3:39 p.m.

In case you were wondering, this is how much beer cost at the Mexico City Stadium today. Those are large cans — the size of two regular beers. 300 pesos is about US $17… And yes, a lot of it was drunk! —Peter Davies

Beer cans and a beer menu at Mexico City Stadium
At left, a menu shows beer prices at Mexico City Stadium. At right, trash bags and cans provide evidence that the prices didn’t discourage fans from partaking. (Peter Davies)

Updated 3:25 p.m.

The stadium emptied out quickly after the match, as fans rushed to beat traffic. —Peter Davies

A mostly empty Mexico City Stadium after Mexico vs. South Africa 2026 FIFA World Cup match.
Mexico City Stadium after Mexico vs. South Africa match. (Peter Davies)

Updated 3:11 p.m.

The final whistle has blown here at Mexico City Stadium. It’s a first-up win for El Tri, with a goal in each half sealing the deal 2-0. Mexico will go straight to the top of Group A with 3 points for the win. Mexico was the stronger side on the day, and is a deserved winner. South Africa wasn’t helped by being reduced to nine men due to two its players receiving red cards. Mexican defender César Montes also got a red card in injury time, but by that stage of the match the result was already settled. Quiñones, the Colombian-born, first-half goal-scorer, was named man of the match. —Peter Davies

A jumbo screen in Mexico City Stadium shows a cartoon goal after Mexico's second goal against South Africa
A goal by Raúl Jiménez sealed Mexico’s lead in minute 67 of the opening match. (Peter Davies)

Updated 2:56 p.m.

South Africa is now down to nine men after a second player, Themba Zwane, was given a red card in the 84th minute. Mexico is dominating possession even more than before now — not surprising given that it is 11 players vs. nine. —Peter Davies

Updated 2:35 p.m.

¡Goooooooool! El Tri is now leading 2-0 after Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez headed a cross into the back of the South African net. Once again, the stadium erupted. Mexico looks hard to beat now with just 20 minutes of regular time remaining.

Jiménez, a 35-year-old Hidalgo native, is a celebrated footballer, with a long club career and over 100 appearances for El Tri. —Peter Davies

Updated 2:30 p.m.

South Africa is down to 10 men after Yaya Sithole was given a red card for a foul on Mexican player Brian Gutiérrez. It will be hard for Bafana Bafana, as the South African team is known, to keep pace with El Tri with just 10 players, but for now, in the 63rd minute, the score remains 1-0 in Mexico’s favor. —Peter Davies

Updated 2:18 p.m.

Mexican fans I spoke to at half time were relatively happy with the first half, but rued the missed chances. They are confident that Mexico will prevail, predicting at least two more goals for the home side in the second half. One of the fans I spoke to is Isael Gutiérrez, manager of the Tijuana-based regional Mexican band Grupo Firme. Gutiérrez, who is at the match with his 15-year-old son, said that football in Mexico is a celebration that brings people together. He predicted a 3-0 victory for Mexico. —Peter Davies

Isael Gutiérrez, manager of the celebrated norteño band Grupo Firme, with his son and MND Chief Staff Writer Peter Davies at the World Cup opening match.
Isael Gutiérrez, manager of the celebrated norteño band Grupo Firme, with his son and MND Chief Staff Writer Peter Davies at the World Cup opening match. (Peter Davies)

Updated 1:58 p.m.

It’s half time here at Mexico City Stadium. Mexico will take a 1-0 lead into the second half after a Julián Quiñones’ goal in the ninth minute. On two occasions, El Tri very nearly added to the scoresheet in the final minutes of the first half, but couldn’t quite find the back of the net. One of the shots hit the right post. Mexico looked the better team in this first half. It had close to 60% of ball possession and had three shots on target to South Africa’s one.

The atmosphere has been electric and looks set to build in the second half as Mexican fans attempt to will their team to a second goal. Quiñones, the goal scorer, is a native of Colombia, but a nationalized Mexican. He made his debut for the national team in 2023. He plays his club football in Saudi Arabia. —Peter Davies

Mexico vs South Africa World Cup game: A view of the field and Mexico City Stadium shows players on the field
Mexican fans predicted their team would keep scoring to seal a 1-0 lead as it heads into the second half of the 2026 World Cup’s opening match. (Peter Davies)

Updated 1:18 p.m.

¡Goooooooool! Mexico has opened its account at this World Cup! Julián Quiñones slotted the ball into the back of the net, sending tens of thousands of fans into raptures. The score stands at 1-0 Mexico after 10 minutes. —Peter Davies

Outside the stadium’s main entrance, a group of student protesters is launching traffic cones and other barriers at a group of police in an attempt to breach the stadium. Facing dozens of police in riot gear, they have not made headway. —Caitlin Cooper

Updated 1:09 p.m.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway! Mexico had the kickoff and maintained possession very early in the match. The stadium is abuzz.

Mexico took possession and made first shot on goal: a hard, low strike toward the left post that was saved by the South African goalkeeper. —Peter Davies

Updated 12:59 p.m.

The Mexican and South African flags have been unveiled on the pitch. The teams are also walking onto the pitch ahead of the 1 p.m. start of this opening World Cup match. The excitement is building in the stadium, as fans rise to their feet for the national anthems. The South African anthem played first, followed by that of Mexico. Mexican fans were in good — and loud — voice. Play is now imminent.

Just before play, fans began throwing thousands of cardboard sombreros toward the pitch. None have made it far, landing instead among the thousands of spectators. —Peter Davies

The Mexico and South Africa flags are unveiled amid smoke and fireworks ahead of the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World CUp
The Mexican and South African flags are unveiled as each team walks onto the pitch. (Peter Davies)

Updated 12:49 p.m.

Mexico has announced its starting 11 for today’s match. Raúl Rangel is the starting goalkeeper, while the defensive players are Jesús Gallardo, Johan Vasquez, Cesar Montes and Israel Reyes. In the midfield, El Tri will start with Álvaro Fidalgo, Brian Gutiérrez and Erik Lira. Up front are Julián Quiñones, Raúl Jiménez and Roberto Alvarado.

South Africa has also announced its starting 11. In goal is Ronwen Williams, while the defenders are Aubrey Modiba, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Ime Okon and Khuliso Mudau. The starting midfielders for South Africa are Teboho Mokoena, Siphephelo Sithole and Jayden Adams. Up front are Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners. —Peter Davies

Updated 12:26 p.m.

The Mexican and South African teams are now warming up on the pitch. These two teams also met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, hosted by South Africa. That match ended in a 1-1 draw. Today’s match will be played in warm conditions in the Mexican capital. It is now 22 C, but high in the stands at least, it feels warmer. Many fans left their seats at the end of the opening ceremony for a bathroom break or purchase refreshments. Beer is a definite top seller. —Peter Davies

World Cup fans wait in line for beer in MExico City
The day is warming up and long lines are forming at refreshment stands, as fans take advantage of a break between the opening ceremony and the start of the inaugural World Cup match: Mexico vs. South Africa. (Peter Davies)

Updated 12:08 p.m.

The high-energy opening ceremony wrapped up around noon. Various groups of performers entered, and later, exited center stage: female dancers in folkloric Mexican dress, warrior-type figures, and many more. Performers including Shakira, Danny Ocean, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Los Ángeles Azules and Maná provided an upbeat soundtrack to the spectacle. Fireworks exploded intermittently, leaving smoke lingering above the pitch. A cry of “Viva México” likely elicited the largest cheer of the ceremony. A large FIFA sign suspended above the center of the pitch made it clear that this is a global event put on by football’s governing body. We’re now less than an hour away from kickoff! —Peter Davies

2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City
The opening ceremony of the World Cup kicks off in Mexico City Stadium ahead of the Mexico vs. South Africa opening match. (Peter Davies)

Updated 11:59 a.m.

At the Parque Las Américas Fan Fest, cheers erupt as Lila Downs begins her performance to officially kick off the opening ceremonies. As Mexican rock band Maná begins to play, the cheers grow even louder and the entire plaza sings along. —Tom Buckley

A dog wearing an El Tri Mexican national team jersey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Fest in Mexico City's Parque Las Américas
Even pets are picking sides: A dog sports an El Tri jersey at the Parque Las Américas Fan Fest in Mexico City. (Tom Buckley)

Updated 11:53 a.m.

Outside the stadium, 60 rows of police and security agents await behind a barricade on Tlalpan Avenue, near the Registro Federal light rail station. Past the barricade traffic is minimal and foot traffic flows smoothly. Pedestrians, scooters and bicyclists — some decked in team colors and jerseys — pass by, going to and from the stadium. —Caitlin Cooper

Updated 11:48 a.m.

The opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup is underway at Mexico City Stadium. At the start of the ceremony, hundreds of performers took to the pitch, which had been draped with a kind of large greenish/bluish flag. A large replica of the World Cup trophy is at the center of the pitch and surrounding it are dancers in pre-Hispanic style penachos (headresses), and scores of gold-clad performers. The circular visual they together created was reminiscent of the Aztec sun stone. —Peter Davies

Updated 11:18 a.m.

Mexican fans have just erupted as it was announced over the sound system that the Mexico team was arriving at the stadium. The team’s green bus appeared on the large screen, adding to the expectation. El Tri has been training at the Mexican Football Federation’s High Performance Center in southern Mexico City. President Sheinbaum presided over an official “sendoff ceremony” for the team at the facility on Monday, during which she presented the national flag to veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. —Peter Davies

Updated 11:16 a.m.

At the Parque Las Américas Fan Fest, one of 18 around the city, roughly 400 people gathered under a marquee on the basketball court in the Benito Juárez borough listening to live music as the opening ceremony draws near. Crowds continued to arrive steadily to the event, which was already standing-room only. —Tom Buckley

Crowds gather at the Parque Las Américas FIFA World Cup Fan Fest in the Narvarte neighborhood of Mexico City.
Crowds gather at the Parque Las Américas Fan Fest in the Narvarte neighborhood of Mexico City. (Tom Buckley)

Updated 11:02 a.m.

While the main World Cup focus today is on the Mexico vs. South Africa match in Mexico City, there is another game tonight. South Korea will take on the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium at 8 p.m. The four teams playing today are all in Group A in the 48-nation tournament. Mexico’s second match will take place in Guadalajara next Thursday night. The first match in Mexico’s third World Cup host city, Monterrey, will be played between Sweden and Tunisia this Sunday night. —Peter Davies

The view of Mexico City Stadium, filled with 2026 FIFA World Cup spectators, before the kick-off match against South Africa
Fans burst into applause as announcers trumpeted the arrival of El Tri at Mexico City Stadium Thursday morning. (Peter Davies)

Updated 10:53 a.m.

Outside of the station of Tlalpan y Tezozomoc the search collective protest march had to stop, briefly. The road is closed. But the demonstration continues, now grown in numbers and crossing the overpass to continue towards the stadium.

It’s has been over two hours since the search collective march set off from el Parque Cerro San Antonio, but energy and visibility has only grown. Walking against the stream of traffic, cries for the government to take responsibility in identifying the missing spouses, children, brothers, and sisters are amplified through megaphones and the sound of a metal pan rapped with a stick.

Students in balaclavas were seen dashing across the road near La Virgen station. A skull and crossbones cape flapped from the shoulders of one young man, who sprinted away after graffitiing the main street’s wall in rebuke of government inaction. —Millie Deere

Updated 10:50 a.m.

The Mexico City Stadium is filling up and is already very loud! Music is playing, fans are chanting and announcements are being made over the stadium loudspeakers at deafening volume. The pitch looks an absolute picture — in pristine condition. Flags of perhaps all, or at least most, of the world’s countries adorn the stadium roof. Right now, Zayu the jaguar — Mexico’s World Cup mascot — is making an appearance on the large screen, eliciting cheers. We are now around 40 minutes away from the start of the opening ceremony. —Peter Davies

The view of Mexico City Stadium, filled with 2026 FIFA World Cup spectators, before the kick-off match against South Africa
The excitement and volume climbed as fans poured into the stadium Thursday morning. (Peter Davies)

Updated 9:52 a.m.

Mexico City Stadium, known colloquially as “The Colossus of Santa Úrsula,” previously hosted World Cup matches, including the finals, in 1970 and 1986. Apart from football (soccer) matches, the stadium has hosted boxing events, NFL matches and large concerts of artists such as Michael Jackson and U2. Pope John Paul II even appeared here at an event in 1999. —Peter Davies

Mexico City Stadium, aka Estadio Azteca, the morning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener
Fans and media gather outside the stadium Thursday morning. (Peter Davies)

Updated 9:43 a.m.

As a result of the protests, some metro stations have been closed, leaving stadium-goers to find their own routes. The closed stations include the Line 2 station Ermita; the stations of Pino Suárez, Hidalgo, Bellas Artes, Allende, Zócalo/Tenochtitlan, Chabacano, San Antonio Abad, Viaducto and Xola on Line 2; and Hidalgo and Universidad stations on Line 3.

Updated 9:37 a.m.

While fans begin to fill the stadium, protestors march on nearby thoroughfares, seeking to bring attention to causes ranging from Mexico disappearance crisis to teacher salaries. After a brief stop under the overpass by Las Torres station on Calzada de Tlalpan to hold its ground, a rally in support of Mexico’s missing persons has begun to march again in the direction of Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca), where the opening match of the World Cup will be held this afternoon.

Various groups and independents, including Colectivo Mariposas Destellando, are marching to raise awareness of the over 130,000 still disappeared people in Mexico, and to exert pressure on the government to do more to identify their missing loved ones.

“Donde están? Donde estan? Nuestros jumps donde estan?” they shout.

The rally is fronted by a street-wide banner of near to 250 faces, mostly men, who have yet to be identified. The nuclei of the protest, donning green T-shirts with their children’s faces, are mothers, who take it in turns to call the name of their missing child, holding a microphone to each other’s mouths.—Millie Deere

Updated at 9:06 a.m.

It’s now 9 a.m. and there is quite a buzz in the Mexico City Stadium media center. There are journalists, photographers, TV reporters and camera operators from around the world. A reporter from Xinhua, the Chinese news agency, approached me to ask about my internet connection — neither of us were able to connect to any of the open Wi-Fi signals. Getting through initial security checks was easy and quick. We are now 2 1/2 hours away from the start of the opening ceremony. Among the star-studded line-up for the ceremony are Shakira, J Balvin (another Colombian singer) and Mexican band Maná. —Peter Davies

World Cup fans in lucha libre masks in Mexico City
Mexican fans arrive at the stadium, ready to cheer on their team. (Peter Davies)

Updated at 8:52 a.m.

El Tri, Mexico’s national football team, comes into its World Cup opener in good form. Mexico won its final warm-up match against Serbia 5-1 in Toluca, México state, last Thursday night. El Tri also won a warm-up match against Australia in the Rose Bowl, in California, on May 30. The score in that match was 1-0. Mexican fans will be hoping that Mexico can notch up another victory today at Mexico City Stadium, a huge arena best known as Estadio Azteca (Azteca Stadium). Head coach Javier Aguirre is managing El Tri at the World Cup for a third time this year. Aguirre, a former World Cup player himself (Mexico ’86), managed Mexico at the World Cups in 2002 in South Korea and Japan, and in 2010 in South Africa. Mexico was knocked out at the round of 16 stage in both those tournaments. —Peter Davies

Updated at 8:32 a.m.

One notable absentee at today’s opening ceremony and inaugural match will be Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. She decided to give away the ticket she received last year from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. In the president’s place at the Mexico City Stadium today will be Yolett Cervantes Cuaquehua, a 21-year-old woman from the Gulf coast state of Veracruz. She won the president’s ticket in a soccer ball juggling competition run by the federal government. Cervantes received her ticket at Sheinbaum’s press conference on May 29. —Peter Davies

Updated at 8:14 a.m.

It’s only 8 a.m. but it’s already starting to get warm here. After a lot of recent rain, it’s a clear, sunny morning in Mexico City. The forecast is a high of 24 C, a temperature that could be reached while Mexico and South Africa are on the pitch. A reminder to our readers: Mexico City sits at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. That altitude could also affect players, although El Tri has plenty of experience playing in Mexico City. The South African team has been training in Pachuca, which is also situated more than 2,000 meters above sea level. —Peter Davies

Nuevo Laredo World Cup fans hold a Mexican flag with the name of their city
A pair of fans hailing from Nuevo Laredo predicted a 4-1 victory by Mexico in today’s match. (Peter Davies)

Updated at 7:50 a.m.

It’s not yet 8 a.m. and the atmosphere is already building outside the stadium as Mexican fans arrived dressed for the occasion. There is also a lot of color — especially green, of course — and some fans have dressed in uniquely Mexican costumes: lucha libre masks, mariachi costumes, pre-Hispanic dress, and women in colorful folkloric skirts. —Peter Davies

Fans sport traditional mariachi costumes and folkloric dresses on their way to the stadium.
Fans sport traditional mariachi costumes and folkloric dresses on their way to the stadium. (Peter Davies)

Updated 7:28 a.m.

It wouldn’t be a World Cup match in Mexico without an OXXO in the stadium precinct! This one is doing a brisk trade at 7:30 a.m. —Peter Davies

A busy Oxxo outside Mexico City Stadium, on Circuito Estadio de Azteca
An OXXO outside Mexico City Stadium, on Circuito Estadio de Azteca. (Peter Davies)

Updated at 7:05 a.m.

I’ve arrived at Mexico City Stadium after a smooth, hassle-free trip on the metro and light rail. At 7 a.m. local time, a good number of fans have already reached the stadium. Security is tight, with a large presence of National Guard Officers and Mexico City police. —Peter Davies

MND Chief Writer Peter Davies at Mexico City Stadium.
MND Chief Writer Peter Davies at Mexico City Stadium. (Peter Davies)

Mexico News Daily

Mexico in Numbers: Mexican beer from coronitas to caguamones

By
MND Staff
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7
Corona Extra beer cans on ice
Corona Extra ranked as Mexico's favorite beer in a recent poll, with just over a third of respondents preferring the brand. (Shutterstock)

The FIFA men’s World Cup kicks off today and that means many Mexicans will be having their first World Cup beer of the 23rd edition of the tournament.

We reported last month that beer sales in Mexico are expected to spike during the 39-day tournament. Sales are likely to be particularly strong when the Mexican national team is playing, as is the case today.

In that context, we decided to make beer the focus of this week’s “Mexico in Numbers” article.

While buying a beer at an OXXO, supermarket or corner store is a simple exercise in Mexico, we found that reliable, up-to-date data related to the country’s favorite alcoholic beverage was harder to come by.

Nevertheless, we managed to compile a range of cerveza-related numbers, a selection of which are presented below. ¡Salud!

Mexico’s favorite beer is …

In a poll conducted in February, the company Gobernarte asked 1,500 people in Mexico which beer they drink most frequently.

Infographic showing Corona as the leading beer brand sold in Mexico

Corona Extra — an iconic Mexican beer that celebrated its 100th birthday last year — was the clear winner, with 36.1% of those polled saying that it was the beer they consumed the most.

Victoria ranked as the second most popular beer, with 27.6% of respondents saying that the Grupo Modelo-produced brew was their go-to.

Ranking third to fifth were Tecate Original (15.5%), Modelo Especial (8.6%) and Michelob Ultra (8.5%).

Beer is the favorite alcoholic beverage of most Mexicans 

According to a 2025 investigation by the media outlet Polls MX, beer — known colloquially as chela and cheve in Mexico — is the favorite alcoholic beverage of 69% of adult Mexicans.

Citing its own research as well as data from Deloitte, Kirin, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bank of Mexico and the Beer Institute, Polls MX also reported last year that 15% of Mexican beer drinkers prefer to drink from cans, and that per capita beer consumption in Mexico was 79.8 liters per year.

Info graphic showing 7 out of 10 shaded beer glasses, representing that 7 out of 10 Mexicans choose beer as their preferred alcoholic beverage

From coronitas to caguamones 

Bottled and canned beer comes in various sizes in Mexico. Here is a brief guide to those different sizes and their names (or colloquial names) in Mexico.

Bottled beer

  • 210-ml bottles: Corona Extra and Victoria are both sold in bottles of this size. Small bottles of Corona are called Coronitas (little Coronas). Other brands are also sold in similarly-sized small bottles. One example is Tecate Light, branded as Tecatita Light. Small bottles of beer are also known as ampolletas (vials) and cuartitos.
  • 355-ml bottles: This is the standard size of bottled beer in Mexico. A bottle of this size is called media or simply a botella.
  • 940-ml bottles: Bottles of this size are colloquially called caguamas or ballenas in Mexico. Bottles of this size are also known as “tamaño familiar” (family size). The name caguama comes from the bottle’s supposed similarity to a loggerhead turtle, which is known in Mexico as a caguama. In some parts of the country, beer bottles of this size are called ballenas (whales), due to their supposed similarity to the large marine mammals.
  • 1.2-liter bottles: Bottles of this size are colloquially known as caguamones. That’s right, the word caguamón refers to a large loggerhead turtle.

Canned beer

  • 355-ml cans: This is the standard size of canned beer in Mexico. A can of this size is simply called a lata (can).
  • 473-ml cans: Cans of this size are often called latones (large cans).
  • 710-ml cans: These even larger cans of beer are also known as latones.
Corona, Indio, Tecate and Miller beer caguamas
Caguamas and caguamones. (Jonathan Reynaga / Pexels)

Mexico’s beer exports 

Mexico is the world’s largest beer exporter and one of the top five producers of the beverage.

In 2024, Mexico’s beer exports were worth US $6.72 billion, an increase of 9.1% compared to the previous year.

Mexico’s revenue from beer exports in 2024 was more than triple that of the Netherlands, which ranked as the second biggest beer exporter that year.

Mexico’s biggest brewers are owned by foreign companies

Mexico’s beer market is dominated by two players: Grupo Modelo, which makes Corona, Victoria and Modelo Especial, among other beers, and Heineken México, which produces Tecate, Dos Equis and Indio, among other beers.

Anheuser Busch InBev, a Belgium-based company that is the world’s biggest brewer, bought Grupo Modelo in 2013 for US $20.1 billion.

Heineken, a Dutch company, acquired the Monterrey-headquartered Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery from the Mexican company FEMSA in a $7.6 billion deal in 2010.

Mexico News Daily 

MND Local: A major decrease in violent crime in Jalisco, plus Guadalajara World Cup updates and new Michelin stars

By
Dawn Stoner
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0
Guadalajara, Jalisco ahead of the World Cup
With reduced violent crime, better Wi-Fi and two new Michelin stars, Guadalajara is ready for its World Cup star turn. (Jalisco Tourism Board)

Guadalajara kicks off World Cup celebrations this week with an expanded digital footprint. Plus, there is good news on the crime front, and we are now celebrating our first Michelin-starred restaurants. 

Violent crime is down significantly, but other types of crime are on the rise

While splashy international headlines continue to fixate on the risk of cartel violence in Jalisco following the military operation last February to remove Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), official crime statistics tell a different story.

Guadalajara city scene
Thanks to efforts from the military and state police, violent crime has decreased significantly, including in the Guadalajara Metro Area. (Guadalajara Host City Organizing Committee)

According to figures from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (Sesnsp), Jalisco registered 279 homicides in the first four months of 2026, a 44% drop from the 501 homicides reported during the same period in 2025. 

When compared to 2024, current numbers look even better. The state’s homicide rate is down 53.5% from two years ago and 58% from the first four months of 2023.

Since the removal of El Mencho, additional military operations in Jalisco and neighboring Nayarit have taken out other top CJNG personnel. Now, with crime numbers continuing to fall, President Sheinbaum’s assertive posture (in sharp contrast to her predecessor’s notorious “hugs not bullets” approach) is being vindicated.

Jalisco’s Governor Pablo Lemus credited the new strategy’s success to better collaboration between Sheinbaum’s federal government and state police. Notably, the military has deployed more than 6,000 personnel in Jalisco, who now patrol the streets alongside more than 8,000 state police. 

While violent crime is dropping in Jalisco, overall crime figures have recorded a low single-digit uptick this year. Based on figures recently presented at the Peace Roundtables (a forum where municipal, state and federal authorities gather to monitor crime data and coordinate tactical operations), the increase reflects a rising incidence of non-lethal crimes, including robberies, drug dealing and vehicular theft. 

Guadalajara adds bandwidth, while private communications firms rush to capitalize on World Cup demand

Area residents have closely followed government efforts to upgrade and expand Guadalajara’s mass transit infrastructure ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Less visible (but no less dramatic) has been the concerted push to upgrade Guadalajara’s digital infrastructure. 

Verizon World Cup ad
Verizon is the official telecommunications sponsor for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Telcel providing roaming services in Mexico. (Verizon)

In anticipation of the unprecedented demand these games are expected to bring from visiting fans, residents and the media, the city has worked diligently to expand network capacity through public and private investments. 

In the private market, Verizon, as the official telecommunications services sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been pitching eSim plans through an app it calls “Visible by Verizon.” 

According to the company’s website, the Visible eSIM Travel Pass is a dedicated service for World Cup visitors that offers unlimited premium data on Verizon’s 5G network, unlimited texts, high-speed roaming and international calling.

The significant bandwidth challenges ahead

Verizon customers in Guadalajara during the World Cup will be roaming on Telcel’s LTE Network. And while Telcel is reassuring local customers that their service will be prioritized during peak network congestion, it’s still possible that in areas of greatest demand, such as Estadio Akron in Zapopan and the Guadalajara Fan Festival, the network could become overwhelmed.

Local authorities have acknowledged they face “significant challenges” providing enough bandwidth to meet expected demand during the World Cup, but highlight ongoing efforts with telecom companies to expand network capacity in critical areas. 

Service interruptions (if they occur) would be felt most acutely at the stadium, as FIFA plans for the first time to deliver all tickets electronically through its mobile app, with no printed offline backup. 

Estadio Akron in Guadalajara ahead of the upcoming World Cup
Estádio Akron, or Estadio Guadalajara, as it will be known during the World Cup, is posing some of the largest bandwidth challenges for tournament organizers. (Guadalajara Host City Organizing Committee)

Estadio Akron and its internet service

Earlier this year, internet testing company Ookla compared network performance at each stadium hosting World Cup games in 2026 to assess their readiness. While Estadio Akron’s performance compared favorably against Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, it lagged behind host stadiums in the U.S. and Canada. 

For Guadalajara Metro Area (GMA) residents long accustomed to middling performance from Red Jalisco (the city’s free public Wi-Fi network), the city made numerous system upgrades this year to expand and improve the reliability of high-speed internet service. 

These efforts were centered on Estadio Akron, Guadalajara International Airport, public plazas and the new light rail Line 4. The state government has also installed multiple interactive totems in high-traffic areas around the GMA offering free internet, fast-charging ports for cell phones, an emergency button that links directly to the Zapopan C5 security center and modules with tourist information in 18 different languages.

Guadalajara now has 2 restaurants with Michelin Stars

It’s been a long time coming, but Guadalajara finally has two restaurants with Michelin stars. In the guide’s first year covering Jalisco, two highly acclaimed restaurants in Mexico’s second-largest city have made the cut.

Alcalde, run by Chef Pascual Ruano, and Xocol, headed up by the husband-and-wife team Óscar Segundo and Xrysw Ruelas Díaz, each earned a covered Michelin star in the 2026 edition of the guide. 

Xocol is a personal affair with owners, chefs, and life partners Segundo and Ruelas Díaz at the helm. In their intimate dining room, everyone sits together at one long communal table with a view of the open kitchen. Their dishes frequently showcase heirloom corn varieties long absent from the urban culinary scene, and fermented ingredients that yield tasty, inimitable creations. 

Alcalde dish in Guadalajara
Alcalde, one of the culinary highlights of the Guadalajara restaurant scene, has received a coveted Michelin star for its creative cuisine. (Michelin Guide)

Alcalde, known for its contemporary take on Jaliscense cuisine, is the standard bearer for haute cuisine in Guadalajara. Seasonal menus allow chef and owner Paco Ruano to feature top local produce, fish and meats, while drawing upon his deep experience in some of the top kitchens in Europe. 

For full reviews, check out our own from last year.

In addition to the prestigious Michelin stars, the following local restaurants earned Bib Gourmand designations for offering excellent food at a great value:

  • PalReal — a stylish venue for contemporary comfort food in Arcos Vallarta.
  • Tacos y Gorditas Elvira — a classic lunch spot in the Mercado Alcalde.

With reports from El Mural, La Razón and El País.

MND Writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.

Trump says he’s ‘not looking to renew’ the USMCA, but the talks continue

By
MND Staff
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Donald J. Trump at a rally
In casting doubt about the future of the USMCA, Trump repeated previous negative remarks, claiming that the only reason he approved it in the first place was that its predecessor NAFTA was worse, and that the best thing about the agreement was that it had an expiration date. (Donald J. Trump/Facebook)

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is not seeking to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the free trade pact that superseded NAFTA in 2020 and is subject to a review process this year. However, he subsequently softened his language, saying that he didn’t know whether he would renew the trilateral trade pact during the formal review talks.

In the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump how confident he was about being able to renew the USMCA, which governs around US $2 trillion in annual trade between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Ebrard
Speaking from the Mexico side, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico is prepared for the next round of talks starting Monday and will stay all week if necessary, continuing to push for renewal of the agreement and relief from the punitive tariffs that Trump imposed on Mexico.
(Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro.com)

“Well, I’m not looking to renew it,” the U.S. president said.

“… I mean I made the deal, and the primary reason I made the deal is that NAFTA was the worst trade deal I’ve ever seen,” Trump said.

“…USMCA did one thing that I loved. After six years it comes up for renewal. I don’t know that I’m going to renew it because to be honest with you, the United States … doesn’t need anything that Canada has, we don’t need anything that Mexico has, but they need everything that we have,” he said.

“And they have to treat us better. You know, with Mexico and Canada we have trade deficits. We should have surpluses with them. We don’t need their cars, we don’t need their lumber, we don’t need their energy, we don’t need anything that they have,” Trump said.

He subsequently said that the USMCA — which underpins deep economic integration in North America — was “sort of a good deal” but a “great deal for one reason: it gave the right to terminate.”

Any country can withdraw from the USMCA by giving the other two parties six months’ notice. Even if the United States refuses to renew the deal in 2026, the earliest the trade pact itself could lapse — assuming no one uses that exit clause — is 2036

Trump’s remarks on Wednesday were similar to comments he made about the USMCA and North American trade in January.

“I want to see Mexico and Canada do well, but the problem is we don’t need their product,” he said at the time.

Trump also said in January that the USMCA provides “no real advantage” to the United States and is “irrelevant” to him.

His remarks on Wednesday came after Mexican and U.S officials held bilateral USMCA talks in late May. Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard subsequently notified U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc that Mexico wishes to extend the USMCA for an additional 16 years to 2042. Canada also wants to extend the trilateral pact.

Trump’s Oval Office remarks cast doubt on the likelihood that the three countries will reach an agreement to renew the USMCA. However, they don’t necessarily mean that the United States will oppose the renewal of the pact or withdraw from it. It would appear more likely that the Trump administration will seek to make changes to the agreement so that it is more favorable to U.S. interests. The threat to withdraw from, or “terminate,” the USMCA could help it to achieve that.

A second round of Mexico-U.S. trade talks is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., next week.

Ebrard: Mexico is ‘prepared’ for the USMCA review

On Wednesday morning, just a few hours before Trump offered his views on North American trade, Economy Minister Ebrard spoke at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s press conference about the upcoming talks with the United States.

“We have the next round of conversations with the United States next week,” he said, noting that Mexico’s delegation would be in Washington until at least Thursday June 18.

“We’re going to be there the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th. On the 18th I have a long meeting with the person responsible for the [USMCA] review negotiations for the United States,” Ebrard said, referring to Ambassador Greer.

“We’re going to be focused [on trade talks] the whole week.  … If it’s necessary we’ll stay until Friday,” he said.

Ebrard said that Mexico is “prepared” for the review talks and has its “arguments” ready. In addition to seeking agreement on an extension of the USMCA, Mexico is looking for tariff relief from the United States, which last year imposed duties on Mexican vehicles, steel and aluminum.

On Wednesday morning, Ebrard framed the very act of holding talks with the United States as a win for Mexico.

“It wasn’t known if we were going to have these formal talks or not. … They are underway and we’ll be there next week,” he said.

Later in the press conference, Ebrard highlighted that — despite the United States’ imposition of tariffs on various Mexican exports — Mexico is in a better position than other countries around the world vis-à-vis trade with the U.S. Indeed, the vast majority of the trade of goods between Mexico and the United States — worth US $872.8 billion in 2025 — occurs tariff-free thanks to the USMCA.

For Mexico, Ebrard said, trade with the U.S. is “cheaper” than it is for “many competitors.”

“For example, it’s more expensive for Vietnam, for the European Union, for many countries of South America as well,” he said.

“So we have a favorable position thanks to the calls the presidenta has made to President Trump and the things we have worked on [with the United States],” Ebrard said.

“The goal is to maintain that position during this process of review of the agreement,” he said.

Ebrard said that the review of the USMCA doesn’t have to be concluded on July 1, but rather the formal review — with representation from the United States, Mexico and Canada — commences on that date.

Mexico News Daily 

CEO of banking giant JPMorgan Chase meets with Sheinbaum in Mexico City

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum spoke Tuesday with a representative of a financial institution with assets valued at US $3.2 trillion and a presence in every market worldwide.  (Presidencia)

President Sheinbaum met Tuesday with Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, one of the world’s largest financial institutions.

Few details came out of the closed meeting, but the president wrote on her X social media site, “At the National Palace, I received Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, the world’s most valuable bank by market capitalization. We discussed the favorable outlook for Mexico, the strength of our economy, and the importance of the North American trade agenda.” 

JPMorgan has assets valued at US $3.2 trillion and a presence in every market worldwide. 

The company holds the top position in investment banking, asset management, financial transaction processing, commercial banking and financial services for both consumers and small businesses.

Earlier this year, Dimon announced an ambitious strategy to strengthen the U.S. economy and national security. 

In his annual letter to shareholders, published in April, the CEO stated that the United States must build strength to maintain its economic and military leadership, while announcing initiatives through which JPMorgan will seek to mobilize over one trillion dollars in investment over the next decade. 

Dimon highlighted the company’s Security and Resiliency Initiative, which aims to channel resources to strategic sectors, including infrastructure, energy, technology, artificial intelligence and critical supply chains. These investments, Dimon says, are necessary to enhance U.S. competitiveness in the face of current geopolitical challenges. The CEO emphasized that international conflicts, inflation and stagflation could threaten the global economy if not addressed. 

In Mexico, U.S. trade tariffs and the review process for the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) have cast a shadow over the country’s economic activity in recent months. 

On June 2, Mexico and Canada requested that the USMCA be renewed for another 16 years. However, President Trump cast doubts on Wednesday on the future of the USMCA in its current form.

Nevertheless, the Sheinbaum government’s overarching Plan México investment strategy has helped attract investment to the economy and encourage nearshoring activities from a broad range of sources. 

With reports from El Financiero, Infobae and Yahoo News

Gov. García, already in ‘party mode,’ offers free beer at Monterrey’s World Cup Fan Fest

By
MND Staff
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NL Gov. S. García
In announcing his free beer policy, Samuel García, Nuevo Leon's partying governor, made a confession: The special cultural events taking place in his state are not for the edification of visitors, as he has been saying, but for the enjoyment of locals. (Samuel García/Facebook/Canva)

Shortly after declaring himself to be in “party mode” for the duration of the World Cup, Nuevo León Governor Samuel García proved that he meant it Sunday by announcing that free beer, soft drinks and carne asada will be offered at the World Cup’s Fan Fest in Monterrey, the state capital.

The announcement came during his speech at the Mega Northern Cavalcade, an event billed as a showcase of the traditions and culture of northeastern Mexico for the foreign teams and fans visiting the region for the World Cup. 

Since Monterrey was announced as a host city, García has constantly referred to the tournament as “el mundial más norteño” (the most Northern World Cup), referring to his and other northern states’ culture of norteño music, carne asada, horseback riding and a distinctive way of speaking.

Using an informal tone, García said that even though his government has promoted the Fan Fest as an event for visitors, it is actually intended primarily for the people of Nuevo León. 

“We say that this event is for those who come from abroad, but that’s not true. That’s what we say in Japan,” he said, perhaps referring to his recent business trip to Asia. “This is for you. So bring your family, and have a spectacular summer.” 

FIFA’s Fan Fest at the Parque Fundidora in Monterrey from June 11 through July 19 will feature performances by local, national and international artists, including Chayanne (Jun 13), Imagine Dragons (Jun 21), Grupo Firme (Jun 24), and Enrique Iglesias (Jun 28).

Alongside these shows, the festival will feature a “Live Stage,” presenting more than 40 performances throughout the 34 days of activities, as well as giant screens showing every World Cup match live, in addition to hospitality areas and interactive play areas.

Besides the free beer, the Monterrey Fan Fest is the only one that sells alcoholic beverages to attendees. Alcohol consumption is banned at all the others.

With reports from Telediario and Milenio

Mexico City’s box seat owners kept their seats at the World Cup — but they’ll pay dearly to eat in them

By
MND Staff
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0
Mexico City Stadium
FIFA's "Premium Package," which includes chips, chicken wings, a cheese table, salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, premium brand alcoholic beverages and soda, costs approximately US $1,250, or around 22,000 pesos, per head per match. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

Football fans who watch World Cup matches from box seats at the Mexico City stadium face extremely hefty food and beverage bills.

Last month, a federal judge granted box owners an injunction against a FIFA prohibition on taking food and beverages into the stadium on World Cup match days.

However, another federal judge overrode that injunction, ruling that box owners must respect FIFA rules and therefore cannot take their own food and beverages into the stadium, and cannot park their cars in the stadium precinct. The ruling, which came in response to a challenge filed by stadium owner Ollamani, and which favors FIFA, was published by the federal judiciary on Tuesday, just two days before the World Cup opening ceremony and first match — Mexico vs. South Africa — will take place at Mexico City Stadium.

Thus, as the Bloomberg news agency recently reported, box owners have to purchase hospitality packages — including food and beverages — directly from FIFA, which took control of Banorte Stadium (aka Azteca Stadium and currently called Mexico City Stadium) last month. The packages certainly aren’t cheap.

Bloomberg reported that FIFA’s “Premium Package,” which includes chips, chicken wings, a cheese table, salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, premium brand alcoholic beverages and soda, costs US $75,000 for 12 people for all five World Cup matches at Mexico City Stadium. Thus, the per-head, per-match price is $1,250, or around 22,000 pesos.

Bloomberg reported that “the cheapest package includes food and water but no alcohol and costs $35,400 for 12 people for all five games.”

“Prices are adjusted on a per-seat basis,” noted the news agency. In other words, hospitality packages for larger 20-seat or 27-seat boxes, for example, are considerably more expensive.

Box owners face large bills, but at least they’ll be in the stadium 

As Mexico News Daily reported last month, FIFA requires full and complete control of stadiums during the World Cup, and therefore box seat owners were informed they would not be permitted to use them during the tournament.

Mexico sought to arrange compensatory payments to box owners who ceded their rights to FIFA, but a large group resisted and in September 2025 Banorte Stadium management reached a deal with FIFA to grant box owners full access to their seats during the World Cup.

Azteca Stadium box owners won’t forfeit seats for World Cup 2026

A sanguine assessment of the situation by box owners — among whom are very wealthy people whose families purchased 99-year ownership contracts to the suites in the 1960s — might be something along the lines of: “We have to cough up a small fortune to eat and drink during the World Cup matches, but at least we’re not locked out of the stadium.”

However, Roberto Ruano, the head of a box owners’ association, wasn’t in a particularly positive mood after he was blocked on Tuesday from taking food and beverages into the stadium ahead of Thursday’s match.

“[Stadium officials] approached to say ‘We have an injunction’ and we’re not going to allow the entry [of provisions]. That’s all they said,” he told reporters.

“… We will try [again] to take in food and drinks because we’re not going to pay a million pesos for sandwiches for five days,” said Ruano, who asserted that box owners have the legal right to take their own provisions into the stadium.

The cost of FIFA’s “Premium Package” for 12 people on five match days is actually 1.3 million pesos at the current exchange rate.

Balfre Morales, a lawyer for the box owners’ association headed up by Ruano, said on Tuesday that the association had not been formally notified of the ruling that overrode the injunction allowing box owners to take food and beverages into the stadium.

“We’ll have to look at how this suspension is set out,” he said, adding that he believed that the injunction granted last month remained valid.

Ruano asserted that a prohibition on taking food and beverages into stadium boxes is a “flagrant violation of our contracts,” and indicated that box owners would seek compensation if they are ultimately unable to do so.

All other World Cup stadiums turned over their boxes to FIFA 

Bloomberg reported on May 30 that “Mexico City Stadium is the only one of the 16 venues across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada that didn’t have to turn over coveted boxes to FIFA for the World Cup games this summer.”

An aerial view of Azteca Stadium, re-labelled Mexico City Stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Mexico City Stadium (Banorte) is the only stadium where box seat owners were allowed to retain their access during the World Cup. (Tomás Pérez de la Cruz/Cuartoscuro)

The news agency also reported that some box owners were attempting to rent out their boxes on World Cup match days.

“A 27-seat suite that has one of the best views of the pitch is asking 27 million pesos, or $1.6 million, for all five games being played at Banorte Stadium, according to a post seen by Bloomberg News. Another 15-person suite is asking 7.5 million pesos,” Bloomberg wrote.

“… WhatsApp groups and a Facebook group are ablaze with ads for the suites, and brokers are writing up contracts between box owners and soccer fans willing to shell millions of pesos,” the report said.

“Word of the underground market has reached FIFA and Ollamani, which on May 11 sent out notices to box owners warning them that any ticket found to be a transfer or sale that goes against the rules can be canceled,” Bloomberg wrote.

With reports from El Financiero, Bloomberg, El Universal, UNO TV and Claro Sports 

Opinion: What would a regional utopia look like? Part 10

By
Pedro Casas Alatriste
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Poll results from AmCham's March 2026 survey with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation.
Poll results from AmCham's March 2026 survey with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation. (AmCham)

This is my tenth “Regional Utopia” essay, and it might be the last. After more than 20 essays in this series and the previous one, I have avoided this topic. I am no expert on security. But if we really want to build a North American Regional Utopia, we cannot skip it. Security cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. has to be part of the picture. Let’s get to it.

For years, the headlines told one story: cartels running wild, drug lords everywhere and fingers pointing straight at the Mexican government. It felt like an endless episode of Narcos. But I am here to share a more optimistic view. Here comes the plot twist.

Under President Claudia Sheinbaum and Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, real results are starting to show. Things might get uglier before they get better, but the private sector is already noticing the change, U.S. attitudes are shifting from frustration to cautious hope and the big arrests keep coming. Let’s look at the numbers.

First, the view from the companies I know best.

AmCham’s 2024 Security Survey asked about 220 firms about the security situation in Mexico — half of them Mexican, most of them large players spread across the country. The headline is simple: optimism is back. The share of companies that feel more secure than the year before jumped from 17% to 39%. Those who think next year will be safer rose from 29% to 43%. This does not mean everything is fine. Insecurity is still the biggest “anti-competitiveness tax” our companies pay. 58% of them now spend between 2 and 10% of their annual budget on security! — steady from before, but with more money going into technology, crisis plans and better training. 60% still feel the impact of common and organized crime. 84% say the rule of law barely exists, and 85% feel illegality is hurting their business. Even so, the trend is turning.

Homicides in Mexico are down by half under Sheinbaum: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

There is a particular gleam of hope coming from Mexico City. Under Sheinbaum’s time as mayor — right before becoming president — Mexico City moved away from being a leading city for crime and insecurity. Firms are even moving operations there from hotter states like Guanajuato or Michoacán. The private sector in Mexico is saying, quietly but clearly: we are not okay yet, but the signs are finally pointing in the right direction.

Now, let’s look north. U.S. voters have long seen Mexico as the neighborhood troublemaker, and our March 2026 survey with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation confirms why: fentanyl trafficking and cartel violence top the list of reasons they call Mexico a “bad neighbor.”

But the same poll shows something else shifting. Support for real security cooperation and law enforcement is growing, especially when people see it as a joint win against a shared problem. Voters understand that a stable Mexico is not charity — it is supply-chain insurance, energy security, nearshoring strength and, most importantly, fewer drugs reaching U.S. streets. The old zero-sum thinking no longer works. When Washington sees concrete Mexican action, attitudes warm up fast. And action is exactly what they are seeing now.

The scoreboard tells the story. The border is getting under control. Fentanyl seizures at the Southwest Border have dropped sharply, down roughly 37 to 57% year-over-year in key metrics through early 2026. At the same time, U.S. overdose deaths have fallen nationwide. Provisional CDC data through late 2025 show a 15 to 37% drop in synthetic-opioid fatalities in most states.

2025 illegal border crossing numbers show a vast difference compared to 2024. Source: Orange County Register

Credit goes to steady Mexican operations done hand-in-hand with American intelligence: clandestine labs taken down, precursor chemicals stopped and a string of major kingpin takedowns. “El Mayo” Zambada has been in U.S. custody since 2024. Rafael Caro Quintero was extradited. Several leaders of the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel were handed over. And in February 2026, Mexican special forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes in Tapalpa, Jalisco — the CJNG’s longtime boss and one of the most violent figures in recent history. This was not one lucky raid. Mexico has extradited or transferred more than 90 high-level criminals to the United States in the past year alone — in rounds of 29, 26 and 37. Labs have been burned, weapons seized and intelligence sharing with the DEA and CIA is at historic levels, according to both governments. Harfuch — known in Washington as “Batman” — has become the trusted partner. U.S. officials I have spoken with say it plainly: cooperation with Mexico under Sheinbaum and Harfuch is better than ever.

The old “hugs not bullets” policy gave the cartels breathing room. That era is over.

The state now has the momentum: intelligence-led policing, financial tracking and strong binational pressure. The 2026 World Cup co-hosting gives everyone extra reason to keep the peace.

Eduardo Guerrero, Mexico’s sharpest analyst on organized crime, put it well in his recent Nexos piece after El Mencho’s death: the CJNG will not disappear overnight. It is well organized, with strong regional bosses and steady cash flows. But steady pressure on the second- and third-tier leaders, the logistics networks and the people who protect them can slowly wear it down without sparking new chaos. Guerrero sees a real window: use better intelligence, U.S. technology and target the money. Violence may spike in some places, such as Baja, Guanajuato, or Michoacán, during the transition, but the national trend favors the government if it stays focused.

So what comes next?

AmCham’s Security Committee has a practical plan that fits perfectly with Guerrero’s thinking and with the current binational economic mood. Focus first on secure corridors — highways, ports, and border crossings — with National Guard support, cameras, drones and real input from private companies on maintenance and quick alerts. Create safer stopovers for truckers: places with fuel, mechanics and patrols so goods (and drivers) are not easy targets. Strengthen cybersecurity with a national strategy that lines up with USMCA Chapter 19 — trilateral meetings, training for small businesses, shared threat reports and clear risk rules. Improve intelligence sharing, set clear performance goals for police and prosecutors and build one simple system for reporting stolen vehicles. Most importantly, keep the conversation open between the government and business. Companies already spend heavily on their own protection; now bring them into the national plan without the old mistrust. Stable supply chains, energy flows, nearshoring factories and tourism all depend on trust.

In a conversation I had with Eduardo Guerrero earlier this week, he mentioned the need for a new Mexican proposal for deeper security cooperation with the United States. We should use this momentum. Bring in experts from every side — no matter their political preferences. We need all the brains and experience we can get, and we need a clear, forward-looking strategy, not imposed by the U.S. but based on local expertise.

People always debate cooperation versus sovereignty. My view is simple: we lost a big part of our sovereignty to organized crime many years ago. Stronger cooperation does not take sovereignty away — it helps us get it back. Sovereignty alone will not let my kid walk safely in the streets. Honesty matters. Admitting we need all the help we can get will bring faster, longer-lasting results.

We are not popping champagne yet (not even close). Cartels adapt, corruption still exists and voters on both sides are impatient. But the data, the arrests, the extraditions and the quiet optimism in boardrooms tell a different story. Mexico gave the bad guys a head start. Yet it seems we have grabbed the wheel back. Under Sheinbaum and Harfuch, we are driving toward something bigger.

A secure neighborhood is not a luxury — it is the basic ingredient for a healthier, more productive society. That is what we all want. Let’s stop pointing fingers (if it’s the U.S. fault for supplying the guns, or the Mexicans for sending out the drugs) and keep working together for the safety of our communities on both sides of the border.

Pedro Casas Alatriste is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (AmCham). Previously, he has been the Director of Research and Public Policy at the US-Mexico Foundation in Washington, D.C. and the Coordinator of International Affairs at the Business Coordinating Council (CCE). He has also served as a consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank. Follow his Substack here.

Sheinbaum guarantees ‘complete safety’ for fans and ‘good vibes’ for El Tri: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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Asked for a score forecast, President Sheinbaum declined, offering only "good vibes" for the Mexican national team.
Asked for a score forecast, President Sheinbaum declined, offering only "good vibes" for the Mexican national team. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds

  • 🏟️ Protests won’t stop fans reaching stadium for World Cup opener: Sheinbaum dismissed concerns that Thursday’s planned demonstrations near Mexico City Stadium would impede World Cup fans, saying “everything is under control” and recommending fans simply leave earlier than usual to reach the venue in time for the opening ceremony.
  • 🎪❓ Zócalo Fan Festival opening in doubt: The president raised the possibility that the FIFA Fan Festival in Mexico City’s main square may not open on Thursday — likely due to the CNTE protest camp nearby — and directed fans to 18 alternative free viewing sites across the capital. An official announcement was expected Wednesday afternoon.
  • 👮‍♀️ Security guaranteed for World Cup tourists: Sheinbaum insisted that visitors to Mexico during the tournament would enjoy “complete safety.” She cited rising international tourism figures and noted that Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are all seeing an influx of arrivals ahead of the 13 matches to be played in Mexico.
  • ✈️🕳️ CDMX Airport “perfect” despite structural incidents: The president declared AICM fully operational, despite a sinkhole appearing on a Terminal 2 vehicle ramp and a pedestrian bridge section falling last week. She said a second and third phase of renovations would follow after the World Cup.
  • ⚽ President to monitor opening day closely: Sheinbaum said she must remain “attentive to everything that happens” on Thursday — security, protests, logistics — whether she watches the Mexico–South Africa match at a fan site or from the National Palace.
  • 🍀🇲🇽 No prediction, just good vibes for El Tri: Asked for a score forecast, Sheinbaum declined, offering only “good vibes” for the Mexican national team before closing the press conference with three World Cup videos and a wish of good luck to El Tri.

Why today’s mañanera matters

The start of the FIFA men’s World Cup is now just one day away, and the situation in Mexico City — where the opening ceremony and first match will take place on Thursday — is not exactly as authorities would like.

Various groups of protesters plan to descend on the Mexico City Stadium on Thursday just as the Mexico-South Africa match is kicking off, but President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday asserted that demonstrations would not cause problems for football fans traveling to the arena better known as Azteca Stadium (Estadio Azteca).

Among the other significant remarks the president made at today’s mañanera was her revelation that the FIFA Fan Festival in the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, may not open on Thursday. Sheinbaum didn’t cite a specific reason why the Fan Festival might not open, but teachers affiliated with the CNTE teachers’ union have been protesting in the area for weeks, and their presence on Thursday could potentially create security concerns.

While most of Mexico’s World Cup focus is currently on Mexico City, Guadalajara is also gearing up to host a match on Thursday. South Korea will take on the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Sheinbaum: Protests won’t affect World Cup fans’ travel to Mexico City Stadium 

A reporter asked the president whether there were any concerns about World Cup fans’ capacity to reach the Mexico City Stadium due to the protests planned for Thursday.

“None,” Sheinbaum responded. “Everything is under control.”

She agreed with the reporter’s suggestion that fans should leave early to make their way to the stadium, located in the southern Mexico City borough of Coyoacán.

“So that there is no problem, there is a recommendation to leave earlier,” Sheinbaum said.

“[Fans] will arrive at the stadium and it will be a very good opening ceremony,” she said before wishing the Mexican national team success in its opening match.

Sheinbaum raises the possibility that the FIFA Fan Festival in the Zócalo won’t open on Thursday 

Asked whether she had decided where she would watch the Mexico-South Africa match, Sheinbaum responded:

“Yes. It’s very important. If for any reason the Zócalo can’t open on the day of the inauguration, there are 18 [additional fan] sites in Mexico City that were planned in advance by the mayor. … There are 18 sites you can attend without any problem. … I will take a decision in due course about whether we watch it here [in the National Palace] or whether I go to one of the 18 sites.”

Sheinbaum said that an announcement about the FIFA Fan Festival in the Zócalo — located adjacent to the National Palace in the historic center of Mexico City and near a large teachers’ protest camp — would likely be made on Wednesday afternoon.

“But if the Zócalo can’t be used for the inauguration for any reason, there are 18 sites where you can watch the match for free,” she said.

Sheinbaum: No security concerns for World Cup tourists in Mexico

Sheinbaum asserted that tourists visiting Mexico during the World Cup will enjoy “complete safety.”

She highlighted that international tourism to Mexico has increased this year, and noted that visitors are arriving in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey for the upcoming World Cup matches, 13 of which will be played in Mexico.

“Mexico is in vogue,” Sheinbaum said, using a phrase that has become something akin to a tourism slogan for the federal government.

Sheinbaum: Mexico City airport is ‘perfect’ 

A sinkhole appeared on a vehicle access ramp at Terminal 2 of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) this week and part of a pedestrian bridge at the airport detached and fell to the ground last week, but Sheinbaum asserted that AICM is in “perfect” condition.

“The first stage of the [upgrade to] the Benito Juárez International Airport was completed on time and [the airport] is operating very well,” she said.

“… After the World Cup, the second and third stages of the remodeling are coming,” Sheinbaum said.

Asked whether there was any concern about protests at AICM during the World Cup, the president responded:

“Both the Mexico City government and the government of Mexico are prepared. There is a lot of coordination and there is no problem.”

Sheinbaum says she will be attentive to ‘everything that happens’ on the opening day of the World Cup 

Sheinbaum told reporters that she “obviously” has to be “attentive to everything that happens” during the opening day of the World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament.

“There is a [government] team that is in charge, but I have to be attentive,” she said.

Mexican National Team sendoff
President Claudia Sheinbaum renewed a tradition Monday as she addressed the Mexican national team (El Tri) in an official sendoff ceremony before they open the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday. (José Luis Conde/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum said she would be monitoring World Cup issues closely — including any security concerns or disruptions by protesters —whether she watches the opening match at one of the 18 fan sites in Mexico City or “right here” at the National Palace.

Sheinbaum declines to make a prediction on the Mexico-South Africa match 

Sheinbaum, who presided over an official “sendoff ceremony” for the Mexican football team on Monday, declined to make a prediction on the outcome of the match between El Tri (Mexico) and Bafana Bafana (South Africa).

“There is no prediction, just good vibes for the [Mexican] team,” she said before presenting three World Cup-related videos.

“Good luck to the national team,” Sheinbaum said before concluding her press conference.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

The Santa Fe Mine disaster: Eyewitness account of an ‘impossible’ rescue

By
John Pint
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Julio Saldaña, of Guadalajara's elite Urban Search and Rescue team
Julio Saldaña of Guadalajara's elite Urban Search and Rescue unit led the dramatic rescue efforts after a Sinaloa mine collapse. (USAR)

On April 7, 2026, a 42-year-old miner named Francisco Zapata was discovered alive after being trapped for 14 days at the far end of a three-kilometer-long tunnel full of sludge and water, 300 meters below the surface.

Julio Saldaña, leader of the eight-man team rescue team who saved Zapata from the mine, has spoken about the rescue for the first time, telling Mexico News Daily how the dramatic escape unfolded.

Sinaloa mine disaster briefing
USAR’s eight-man unit is briefed on the challenges that lie ahead as they attempt to rescue a miner trapped for 14 days. (USAR)

La Mina Santa Fe is located in a remote spot 70 kilometers southeast of Mazatlán. After extracting gold and silver from the mine, the operators were storing the liquified tailings in a dam, unwisely located directly above one of the tunnels leading into the mine. The “mud” in this pool consisted of finely ground silica, clay and silt, possibly mixed with reagents like cyanide, plus traces of arsenic, lead, zinc and manganese, along with sulfide minerals.

175,000 meters of muck

On March 25, the floor of the tailings pool collapsed, and 17,500 cubic meters of toxic sludge poured into the mine. Most of the men inside managed to escape with their lives, but six days after the event, three men were still not accounted for.

A call for help went out to Mexico’s most experienced rescue teams, including Guadalara’s elite Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit.

“At 8:00 pm on March 30, 40 of us set out from Guadalajara,” USAR commander Julio Saldaña told me. “We drove nonstop for 24 hours with 16 tons of equipment and two dogs. When we arrived, we found that the Army, the Navy, Protección Civil and the Red Cross were all present … and they were all frustrated.”

The new arrivals discovered that both of the mine’s entrance tunnels were filled with tailings mud.

“There was simply no way to proceed,” said Saldaña. “That stuff was not your ordinary mud. If you put your foot into it, you couldn’t pull it back out — the cohesion of that muck was unbelievable!”

La Mina Santa Fe is 70 kilometers southeast of Mazatlán, Sinaloa mine disaster
La Mina Santa Fe, located 70 kilometers southeast of Mazatlán, had very unusual mud after the cave-in, which made rescue efforts far more challenging. (USAR)

The missing miners were at the end of three kilometers of this toxic sludge, and all the rescuers were trying to figure out how to reach them.

Hot, humid, and pitch dark

“So we sent for wooden planks, 60 centimeters wide by 2.2 meters long and we started placing them on top of the mud, in a straight line, one after the other. Now, sometimes there was only a space of 50 centimeters above the boards and, of course, the ventilation, lighting and electrical systems had been knocked out by the mud flow. So, the whole time, we had total darkness, 100% humidity, and a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius — that’s 100 degrees Fahrenheit!”

The longer the boardwalk grew, the farther the next board had to be carried from the mine entrance.

“We had to carefully watch each other and run to help anybody who fell into that tailings soup.”

At this speed, it took six days to reach the area where the miners were supposedly trapped.

Visibility zero

“The mud petered out, and we were now faced with a 50-meter-long pool of toxic water, at the end of which there was a vado, a water-filled, V-shaped sump. To get past that, we needed divers.”

Divers brought in for the rescue efforts after a Sinaloa mine disaster
At this stage of the rescue, divers were needed to overcome the difficulties posed by a 50-meter-long pool of toxic water and a water-filled sump. (USAR)

Three military divers were brought in. These reported a visibility of absolute zero. On top of that was the danger of exposure to unknown chemicals in the water.

“Such being the case,” said Saldaña, “we decided to try pumping out the water. But that meant bringing a 400-kilo pump over the boardwalk.

“Imagine that! We made a kind of cart, with one guy pushing and one pulling, and, of course, we had to have an electrical cord three kilometers long. The CFE supplied that, along with great maps of the mine, so we knew just what was coming up next.”

Trench foot and despair

“At this point, most of us had trench foot. Ten of us had been hurt. After a week of frustration, my compañeros were asking, ‘When are we going home?’ I went back to camp and woke up at 6 a.m. to a beautiful moon. ‘This is the day!’ I said to myself.”

When Saldaña reached the end of the tunnel, he found the water level much lower. The divers decided to try passing the sump.

Following standard procedure for this, two divers went into the sump holding onto a rope while the third stayed at the sump entrance, feeding the line to them. Communication was via short tugs on the rope.

The divers who disappeared

USAR search and rescue unit after Sinaloa mine disaster
The rescue efforts required to save Francisco Zapata were extraordinary and took great courage and heroism. (USAR)

“Fifteen minutes passed,” said Saldaña, “and suddenly the third diver turned to me. There was a look of panic on his face. He lifted his hand, and there was the end of the rope, dangling. The two divers had broken the golden rule of cave diving and had let go of the rope!

“I was in charge, and now I felt responsible for two deaths. We were preparing to send somebody back up to the surface with the bad news when suddenly the two missing divers popped up. One of them took off his regulator and shouted, ‘¡Está vivo! He’s alive!’

“Well, I went from grief to gratitude to surprise all at once. But how could anyone be alive after 14 days without food or water? That was impossible!”

I knew you would come for me

The senior diver explained. They had gone through the sump until they had no more rope. They were about to return when “Suddenly we saw a flash of light from up above,” he said. “It blinked off and then on again. I let go of the rope and popped up in a big air bubble … and there was Francisco Zapata. I don’t know which of us was more shocked. Zapata started to cry, saying ‘I knew you would come for me.’”

Sitting in an air-filled space less than a meter high, Zapata had carefully rationed his food, water and light, and at the end was drinking his urine and even some of the tailings water.

Divers brought Zapata food and drink, and the next day — after a crash course in cave diving — he dove the sump and ended up walking out of the mine on his own two feet. Then he was scooped up by a helicopter and taken directly to the main hospital of Mazatlán, and today he leads a normal life.

“I’ve been doing this sort of thing for 25 years,” says Saldaña, but this was the most intense experience of my life. I’ve always said I don’t believe in miracles, but in this case … I wonder.”

John Pint has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of “A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area” and co-author of “Outdoors in Western Mexico.” More of his writing can be found on his website.

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