Mexico gives Trump World Cup bloodbath warning over 'most wanted drug lord'

Mexican officials have begged Donald Trump not to pursue the world's most wanted drug lord fearing violence could spill over during the World Cup.

In less than a year, Mexico, Canada and the US will welcome fans from across the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But while the occasion is typically one for celebration, there are fears in Mexico that the Trump administration's pursuit of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes - also known as El Mencho - could lead to a violent overspill.

The Mexican government asked US Attorney General Pam Bondi to refrain from capturing or killing the cartel leader. But US officials are concerned over the power of the Jalisco Carelthat holds businesses and several arms of the state in its grasp or influence.

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A high-ranking Jalisco cartel official recently revealed that Oseguera's bodyguards include elite commandos from Russia as well as state-of-the-art weapons, reports Milenio. A major strike against the drug lord would prove to be potentially disastrous for Guadalajara, one of the three main venues hosting international matches.

Instead, Mexico intends to pursue a suspension of hostilities during the World Cup. In practice, this would mean suspending hunts for cartel members as long as they stay quiet during the world's largest sporting event.

But the core problem is any truce is dependent on the so-called good-will of the cartels and not the government's capacity to go after them. Violence during the World Cup is not unheard of with the event being exploited by paramilitary and and terrorist groups.

Trump recently ordered the striking of a boat off the coast of Venezuela, with his administration claiming there were 11 suspected gang members aboard. Several legal experts have questioned the legality of the strike.

The strike has been viewed as an attempt to provoke Venezuela's dictator Nicolas Maduro. Some analysts have speculated whether the Trump administration would be willing to bring about regime change in Venezuela.

In June 18, 1994, authorities came across the site of a massacre during a World Cup Match between Italy and Ireland. The loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force, that wanted to remain part of the union within the UK, burst into a pub in Loughinisland, County Down and opened fire.

In the massacre, six civilians were killed and five others were wounded. The pub had been frequented by Catholics.