MIAMI — The wave of violence that has rocked Mexico and led the U.S. State Department to advise U.S. citizens to shelter in place in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup has caught the attention of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, although Infantino said he still believes this summer’s tournament in Mexico will be a celebration of the sport.
Violence broke out in several cities, including Guadalajara, after Mexican security forces killed drug cartel leader Nemesio Oceguera, leading to flight cancellations, roadblocks and shelter-in-place orders. As the unrest appeared to abate and normalcy began to return, dozens of deaths were reported.
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Infantino, who was speaking at an event on February 25 to celebrate the opening of the FIFA Museum at the Liberty Tower in Miami, said FIFA has been in contact with Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum.
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“We monitor the situation, we study the situation, and what is happening in the world,” Infantino said. “We don’t live on the moon; we live in the world. When things happen, we have to trust the situation, the authorities, the country, the police. We have to trust them wholeheartedly and support Mexico, support a country that is suffering and that deserves to host the World Cup. It will be a party.”
Mexico co-hosts the World Cup with the United States and Canada. Mexico City’s historic Estadio Azteca is scheduled to host the World Cup’s opening match on June 11, when Mexico faces South Africa.
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But before that happens, Infantino has more pressing concerns. Guadalajara will also host World Cup matches and is scheduled to host two games on March 26 to help determine the winner of the six-team play-off tournament.
“No one has to move anything,” Infantino said.
However, a number of league matches over the past few days have been postponed.
Infantino spoke to a panel that included Miami host city co-chairman Rodney Barreto, Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas and Miami Dade College president Madeleine Pumariga.
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Here are some highlights from the gathering:
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Barreto said early reports he received from the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau showed a 200% increase in hotel bookings during the World Cup. There have been calls for a boycott of World Cup games in the United States following the recent killings of Reneé Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by ICE police.
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Seven World Cup games will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, including the quarterfinals and consolation games. All eyes are on Colombia’s match against Portugal on June 27. FIFA officials said the match received more than 30 million ticket applications, the most of any 48-team World Cup match, including the cup final. The cheapest Colombia-Portugal tickets start at over $2,200 on the secondary market.
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England, ranked fourth by FIFA, is finalizing plans to hold two World Cup warm-up games at the soon-to-open Liberty Park near Miami International Airport.
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Barreto said Fan Fest, scheduled to be held at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami, will go ahead as planned. Ray Martinez, chief operating officer of the Miami Host Committee, told The New York Times this week that the festival may be canceled unless the committee receives federal funding. Last week, New York canceled a planned festival at Liberty State Park.
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Barreto said plans to deal with traffic, public transportation and security will be unveiled. He said the transportation plan will include Brightline, Tri-Rail and ride-sharing services.
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The FIFA Museum is the first museum in the United States to celebrate the history of the sport and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $18 per person, with student discounts available. This is a permanent exhibit at the Freedom Tower, 600 Biscayne Boulevard.
Regarding Fan Fest, Barreto said, “Our Fan Fest is happening. We’re committed to it. It’s all happening. We have an agreement with the city of Miami and Bayfront Park.”
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“We’ve done this in many Super Bowls,” added Barreto, the longtime South Florida Super Bowl host committee chairman.
Martinez expressed reservations because unlike the Super Bowl festival, which lasts about a week, the FIFA event is planned to last more than 23 days.
“We hit all of our goals in terms of internal fundraising and cooperation between the city, county, state and federal government, so we feel good,” Barreto said. “Thank God I’m not the president of the Guadalajara host committee. But Miami is ready.”
Maas expressed confidence that Miami Liberty Park will debut on April 4. Mas said Lionel Messi, who led Inter Miami to the MLS Cup title last season, is committed to ensuring Argentina retains its World Cup title.
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Maas couldn’t help but reflect on how far his team and the region have come since MLS awarded him the franchise seven years ago.
“We were sitting in a conference room in our office with a whiteboard and thinking, ‘Oh, what do we do next?’ To this day, we have a club that is considered a true giant in global football. Our recognition is global. We are the best-selling jersey on the planet (Messi’s No. 10). We have the best players in the world here. We are MLS Cup champions. Our city hosts the World Cup. We live in the best city in the world.
“I mean, things couldn’t get any better. It was a painful moment for me.”
This article originally appeared in The Palm Beach Post: World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino weighs in on violence in Mexico
