Summary
The city of Guadalajara, Mexico, is preparing to host four World Cup matches in 2026, with ongoing construction projects causing significant traffic issues. However, a more pressing issue in the region is the high number of missing persons, with Jalisco having the highest count in Mexico. Mexican authorities are allegedly trying to improve the city's image by removing signs related to the missing individuals ahead of the World Cup.
Key Facts
- Guadalajara, Mexico is set to host four matches for the 2026 World Cup.
- The city is undergoing major infrastructure renovations, causing traffic problems.
- Jalisco, the state where Guadalajara is located, has the most missing persons in Mexico, with nearly 16,000 officially recorded.
- Many families do not report missing persons due to fear of retaliation, suggesting the actual number may be higher.
- Local authorities are reportedly trying to clean up the city's image by removing signs and posters of the missing people.
- The posters include information and images of missing individuals, like Elda Adriana Valdez Montoya and Jordy Alejandro Cardenas Flores.
- Mexico's government has been criticized for involvement in or neglect of the high disappearance rates, partly attributed to the "war on drugs" that started in 2006.
- Activists and families, like Maribel Cedeno of the Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco, accuse the government of inaction in addressing the issue of missing persons.
