Investigators have discovered 456 bags containing human remains near a Mexican stadium scheduled to host 2026 World Cup matches, raising serious safety questions about the tournament's host city.
Volunteer search groups operating near Guadalajara's Akron Stadium in Jalisco state have made the grim discoveries since beginning operations in 2022, with the latest findings occurring this September. The remains were scattered across multiple sites within 10 to 20 kilometers of the sports venue.
Search coordinator José Raúl Servin García told media the situation is "heartbreaking," noting the discoveries near a future World Cup venue while criticizing authorities for downplaying security problems and even removing missing persons posters to avoid alarming tourists.
The remains represent cases spanning several years, with some victims believed to have died within the past year while others may date back to 2018, 2020 and 2022. The findings highlight Mexico's severe security challenges as it prepares to co-host soccer's global tournament alongside the United States and Canada.
Akron Stadium, located in Mexico's soccer heartland, is slated to host World Cup matches amid ongoing concerns about drug cartel violence and the country's staggering missing persons statistics.
