Hundreds of Body Bags Found Near Mexican Stadium Hosting National Team Matches, Raising Security Concerns

Volunteer Search Teams Have Discovered Remains Since 2022
Cartel Violence Cited as the Main Cause
Authorities Announce Major Security Measures Amid Growing Controversy

With the 2026 North and Central America World Cup approaching, concerns over local security are mounting after hundreds of body bags were discovered near Akron Stadium in Jalisco, Mexico. On December 8, Yonhap News TV, citing the Latin Times, reported that 456 bags containing human remains have been found around Akron Stadium since 2022. Akron Stadium will host four matches, including the South Korean national team's first and second group stage games, as well as an intercontinental playoff.

The volunteer search team Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco, active in the Guadalajara area of Jalisco state, has discovered numerous body bags in the region since beginning operations in 2022. Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco SNS

The volunteer search team active in the Guadalajara area of Jalisco state has discovered numerous body bags in the region since beginning operations in 2022. The most recent remains were unearthed this past September, and local authorities suspect the involvement of criminal cartels that control the area. In particular, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is believed to have expanded its influence, turning the state into a center of violence. Jalisco currently has 14,095 registered missing persons, the second highest number in Mexico.

Local journalist Oscar Ramirez identified 2018 as the year when the discovery of bodies began in earnest. A representative from Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco criticized authorities, stating, "Officials are not properly reporting the locations where bodies are found," and added, "Ahead of the World Cup, they are rushing to complete excavation work to make everything appear normal." The representative further claimed, "The government is only interested in economic benefits, and is even removing missing persons posters to prevent visitors from noticing the issue."

Akron Stadium, Jalisco, Mexico. Wikipedia

In response to the growing controversy over public safety, Jalisco state authorities announced plans to strengthen security during the World Cup, including the installation of 3,000 surveillance cameras, the deployment of drones, bomb-sniffing dogs, and the National Guard. The UK’s International Business Times assessed that this situation "reveals the grim reality of cartel violence and Mexico’s deepening crisis of missing persons."

Meanwhile, the 2026 North and Central America World Cup will be held at 16 stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 next year. The South Korean national team, in Group A, will play its first match against the winner of European Playoff Path D at Akron Stadium on June 12, followed by a match against Mexico at the same venue on June 19. The third group stage match will take place against South Africa at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey on June 25. This tournament is the second multi-nation co-hosted World Cup since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and the first to expand the number of participating countries from 32 to 48. The group stage will consist of 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams advancing to the round of 32 knockout stage to compete for the championship.