Mexico News Today: Cartel Violence Engulfs Cancun, Tulum — FIFA World Cup 2026 in Serious Jeopardy

Mexico is in the grip of its worst security crisis in years, and the consequences are now radiating far beyond Jalisco state. The violence which erupted in Mexico on Sunday is among the worst the country has known in years. What began as a military operation that killed CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — better known as "El Mencho" — on February 22, 2026, has now spread across more than 20 Mexican states, reaching the Caribbean tourist corridors around Cancun, Tulum, and Cozumel, due to fears that splinter groups of the cartel might attempt to establish a presence there through acts of violence and challenge state authority. And with the FIFA World Cup 2026 just four months away, the world is asking an urgent question: can Mexico still host?

What Is Happening in Mexico Right Now: 20 States Paralyzed

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has engaged in gun shootouts with the Mexican military, blocked roads, and burned vehicles in response to the killing of El Mencho. Violence began in the central-western Jalisco state — where a Code Red security situation has been declared — and has now spread to at least a dozen more regions, with videos posted online showing gunmen patrolling streets and smoke billowing over cities.

Members of the CJNG have taken over public transportation and other local businesses in over 20 Mexican states. Here is a snapshot of where the violence is concentrated today:

FIFA World Cup 2026 in Mexico: Serious Concerns, No Official Action Yet

The timing of the Mexico cartel violence could not be more catastrophic for international football. Four high-level football matches were postponed on Sunday, February 22, 2026, and an international friendly between Mexico and Iceland, scheduled for Wednesday at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro, was canceled by the Mexican Football Federation.

Akron Stadium, located on the outskirts of Guadalajara in Jalisco state, will host four group-stage matches in June for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Speculation has been swirling around Mexico's role in the 2026 World Cup after the wave of cartel-linked violence, but there is no indication that FIFA plans to move any matches. Despite these rumors gaining traction on social media, there has been no official word from FIFA or Mexican authorities suggesting any changes to the World Cup schedule.

Under the 2026 FIFA World Cup regulations, the body has the right to cancel, reschedule, or relocate one or more matches — or the entire FIFA World Cup 26 — for any reason at its sole discretion, including as a result of force majeure or due to health, safety, or security concerns. Mexican authorities insist that extensive security measures have been planned in coordination with FIFA, including heavy deployment of the army and National Guard, reinforced surveillance, and international cooperation.

Flights to Portland, Cancun, and Mexico: What Travelers Must Know Now

The aviation disruption across Mexico is massive and worsening. Cancun International Airport has recorded 40 delayed flights and 23 cancellations today alone. Puerto Vallarta airport remains closed. Mexico City's Benito Juárez airport is experiencing cascading delays. For travelers with flights connecting through any Mexican airport — including those booked on routes through Cancun to Portland, Houston, Dallas, or other U.S. cities — the situation remains extremely fluid.

Every major North American carrier has issued travel waivers for Mexico:

• American Airlines: Change-fee waivers active through March 3
• United Airlines: All PVR and GDL operations suspended; Cancun disrupted
• Delta Air Lines: Travel advisory through February 26 for all Mexico routes
• Southwest Airlines: Cancun rotations scrapped; check status before going to airport
• Air Canada / WestJet: Advised passengers not to go to any Mexican airport without confirmed flight status
• Alaska Airlines: Mexico operations suspended

Cancun and Tulum: What Tourists on the Ground Are Experiencing

Citizens were instructed to remain in their hotels and refrain from any non-essential travel. The warnings extend to the Caribbean areas around Cancun, Tulum, and Cozumel, due to fears that splinter groups of the cartel might attempt to establish a presence there through acts of violence. The CJNG is estimated to be worth more than $13 billion USD and has tens of thousands of members. It has been responsible for a series of massacres, kidnappings, and killings of politicians since its formation in 2009.

What You Must Do If You Are in Mexico Right Now

Whether you are in Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel, Guadalajara, or any other part of Mexico, the immediate action checklist is the same:

• Stay in your hotel or resort — do not attempt ground transportation
• Do not go to the airport without first confirming your specific flight is operating
• Contact your airline directly for rebooking or waiver options
• U.S. Embassy emergency line (from Mexico): (55) 8526-2561
• U.S. toll-free emergency: +1-844-528-6611
• Canadian consular emergency: 1-613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted)
• Monitor the U.S. Embassy Mexico security alert page and your government's official travel advisory continuously

The response by the CJNG is, in a way, required by the rules of the game — if you have your leader killed, you have to respond, otherwise you look weak, one security expert told BBC Sport. With no clear CJNG successor identified, the violence gripping Mexico — from Guadalajara to Cancun to Tulum — may intensify before it stabilizes.