GUADALAJARA, MEXICO. – The governor of the state of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus, assured this Monday that Mexico does not face any risk of losing its venues for the FIFA World Cup 2026, despite the recent outbreak of violence recorded in the country.
You may be interested in:President of Mexico guarantees security for the 2026 World Cup despite violent events in Jalisco
“There is a lot of false information; some media outlets have picked it up, but President Claudia Sheinbaum herself has confirmed it: there is absolutely no risk for Mexico of losing any of the three World Cup venues,” stated the state governor to the media.
The statements come after the security situation in Jalisco generated international concern about the country’s ability to guarantee order during the World Cup.
Lemus explained that a meeting was recently held with FIFA representatives in Mexico, where the organization’s confidence in the country as host of the tournament was ratified.
Confirmed Locations
Mexico will host a total of 13 matches of the 2026 World Cup and four pre-tournament play-off matches. The three cities confirmed as venues are:
- Mexico City, at the Azteca Stadium, where the opening match will be held on June 11, 2026.
- Guadalajara, at the Akron Stadium, with four group stage matches.
- Monterrey, at the BBVA Stadium, which will host three initial phase matches and one knockout round match.
Likewise, the governor confirmed that the repechage matches are scheduled for March and that the World Cup trophy will be presented next Saturday at the Akron Stadium, as part of the activities prior to the tournament.
Mexico will also host four playoff matches that will define the last teams to qualify for the World Cup, consolidating its strategic role within the joint organization of the event.
With these guarantees, the Mexican authorities reiterate that the country maintains its intact commitment to offer a safe and successful World Cup in 2026.
