Deadly cartel-linked shooting disrupts Mexican football match
A violent attack at a community football game in Loma de Flores, central Mexico, left 11 people dead and several more wounded. The incident has heightened concerns about security in Mexico ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host. Norma Barron, a league promoter, described the chaos as families fled for safety. Authorities confirmed the massacre was linked to ongoing gang turf wars in Guanajuato state.
Match highlights
- At least 11 people were killed and 12 wounded during an attack on the eve in Salamanca, Guanajuato state, Mexico, on January 26, 2026.
- The attack targeted a football game attended by families, with gunmen arriving in at least three vehicles.
- Among the dead were at least five members of a security company allegedly linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
- The attackers were believed to be from the rival Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, and messages at the scene referenced the gang dispute.
- Guanajuato Governor Libia Garcia announced Monday the start of a joint operation by state and federal forces in the area.
