Sports
At Least 11 Dead in Gangland Shooting at Mexican Football Game
In shocking news coming out of Mexico, it’s been reported that at least 11 people have been killed during a football match. The incident took place on 25 January in the city of Salamanca, Guanajuato state, western Mexico, and a further 12 people have been injured.
Accoring to Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto, via Daily Mail, the gunmen arrived at the end of a football match at around 5.20pm. They then opened fire at the pitch located in the Loma de Flores community in Salamanca, killing multiple people.
As per BBC News, many families had stayed behind to socialise after a match between local clubs. At least one woman and one child were among those killed. It’s understood that the attack was part of recent gangland troubles.
Speaking to the press, Mayor Prieto noted that the attack was part of a ‘crime wave’ in the city. He also appealed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for help to control the growing violence.
Shocking statements from witnesses revealed that several armed men arrived in two pickup trucks, got out, and fired ‘indiscriminately’ at players and spectators. Ten people died at the scene, and one died later at a hospital. The Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office said that it was investigating and coordinating with federal authorities to reinforce security in the area.
Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup, with games held in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Fans who might be travelling to the tournament will be glad to hear that the city of Salamanca is hours away from any of those cities. However, the state of Guanajuato is a neighbour to Jalisco (where Guadalajara is located).
Guanajuato had Mexico’s highest homicide total last year. A local gang, Santa Rosa de Lima, has been battling the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Mexico’s government said the country’s 2025 murder rate was the lowest since 2016 at 17.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, although analysts cautioned that the numbers may not fully reflect the country’s violence.
This most recent killing came just a day after several violent incidents in the city, in which a total of five men were killed and another was abducted. On the recent gang troubles, the Salamanca mayor said:
‘Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to subjugate authorities, something they are not going to achieve.”
21 MPs Calling For Donald Trump’s USA to be ‘Kicked Out of 2026 World Cup’
A motion has been signed calling for FIFA to ban the United States.
Ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter Warns Fans Against Travelling For World Cup
While so much attention has been on the US ahead of the 2026 World Cup, this violence in one of the other co-hosting cities may spark concern among those who were intending to travel to the tournament this summer. Just this week, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested that fans should boycott the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking on social media, he agreed with the idea that fans should be wary of travelling to the United States. He wrote:
“‘For the fans, there’s only one piece of advice: stay away from the USA!’ I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
United States President Donald Trump has made the fight against criminal gangs sending illicit drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamines and cocaine one of his priorities. In the past, he has alleged that “cartels are running Mexico” and has threatened to hit “narco-terrorists” with land strikes.
The 2026 World Cup begins on 11 June when Mexico host South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a good four-hour drive from Salamanca.
