Five police officers murdered in Michoacán ahead of World Cup kickoff

Five police officers were shot and killed in the Mexican state of Michoacán on Wednesday, a day before the 2026 World Cup's opening ceremony in Mexico City. Local authorities reported that the officers were ambushed by unknown assailants while traveling in a vehicle through the municipality of Nahuatzen. This region is known to be a stronghold of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), considered one of the most violent criminal organizations globally. In addition to the fatalities, five other officers were injured during the attack. The incident follows the November 2025 assassination of Uruapan's mayor, Carlos Manzo, which had already sparked widespread criticism of the federal government's handling of organized crime. Manzo, 40, had reportedly sought support from President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration to combat escalating violence in Michoacán. Despite the attack, the Mexican government maintains that there is no threat to the safety of football fans attending the World Cup matches, which Mexico is co-hosting with Canada and the United States. Security forces have launched an intensive operation to apprehend those responsible for the ambush.