Mexico’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have come under renewed scrutiny following a deadly shooting at the Teotihuacan pyramids on Monday, April 20, after which President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged lapses in security and called for stronger measures ahead of the tournament. The attack, which comes less than three months before the World Cup begins, has raised concerns about spectator safety as Mexico prepares to host matches with the United States and Canada.
what happened in teotihuacan
The shooting occurred just after 11:30 a.m. local time at the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about an hour from Mexico City and one of the country’s most visited tourist attractions. According to Mexican authorities, a lone gunman began firing from the top of the pyramid while dozens of tourists were present, and fired 14 bullets at civilians as well as National Guard military police. One Canadian tourist was killed and 13 others were injured. Those taken to hospital included six US citizens, three Colombians, two Brazilians, a Russian and a Canadian. The victims ranged in age from six to 61 years. Video footage broadcast by local media showed people scrambling for cover amid gunfire, and the attacker was seen standing on top of the structure. Authorities later confirmed that the gunman, identified as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A gun, knife and ammunition were recovered from his luggage.
Forensic workers carry the body of a victim down a pyramid after a gunman opened fire on authorities in Teotihuacan, Mexico, on Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Security officials said the attack “was not spontaneous”, Mexico state prosecutor José Luis Cervantes Martínez said the suspect “made several preliminary visits to the archaeological site, stayed in hotels near the site ahead of time and planned his violent acts from there.”
Government response and acceptance of security flaws
Speaking at his morning press conference in Mexico City on Tuesday, April 21, Sheinbaum said the site lacked adequate security measures to prevent such an attack. “Obviously, we need to tighten security,” he said, adding that authorities should ensure that “nobody can enter an archaeological site, a tourist site, with a firearm.” He described the shooting as “an isolated incident”, while also acknowledging the need for immediate action. “We have an obligation as a government to take appropriate measures to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again,” Sheinbaum said. “But clearly, we all know, Mexicans know, that this is something that hasn’t happened before.” The next morning after the incident, journalists asked questions about the country’s preparedness to host international spectators during the World Cup.
Wider context: World Cup planning and current concerns
Mexico is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Canada, with the tournament running from June 11 to July 19. The United States will host 78 of the 104 matches, while Mexico and Canada will each host 13. Mexico’s opening match will take place on June 11 in Mexico City, where the national team will take on South Africa in a repeat of the 2010 opener. The country will host 13 matches in three cities:
- Mexico City – 5 matches including the opening match of the tournament
- Monterrey – 4 matches, including the round of 32 match on 29 June
- Guadalajara – 4 matches, including Mexico vs South Korea on 18 June
The Teotihuacan site was expected to be a major destination for visiting fans in its own right, located close to the capital and attracting more than 1.8 million international visitors annually. Just days before the attack, local lawmakers had pushed to restart a nightly interactive light show at the pyramids for World Cup tourists, a project that had been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Teotihuacan pyramids reopen to visitors on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, two days after a gunman opened fire at the archaeological site on the outskirts of Mexico City. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
The shooting follows earlier concerns over security, particularly following an increase in cartel-related violence linked to the death of drug lord “El Mencho” (nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes) in February.
Security measures and FIFA position
Mexican authorities have already outlined extensive security plans for the tournament. The government has committed to deploying 100,000 security personnel across the country, with a focus on the host cities Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Authorities have also confirmed the use of drones, aircraft and more than 2,000 military vehicles along with a strong security perimeter around stadiums, airports and transport routes. “As you can see, we are very prepared for the World Cup,” Sheinbaum said in March.
Police search visitors as the Teotihuacan pyramid reopens, two days after a gunman opened fire at the archaeological site on the outskirts of Mexico City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also supported Mexico’s readiness, saying: “I want to say from the beginning that we have full confidence in Mexico, in President Claudia Sheinbaum, in the authorities, and we believe that everything will work out in the best possible way.” He added, “As it happens in every country in the world, things keep happening, which is why we have the state, the police and officials who will ensure order and security… On behalf of FIFA, I have full confidence.”
where things stand
The Teotihuacan shootings have not led to any changes to the World Cup schedule, but have put a renewed focus on security, especially at tourist destinations that are expected to see surges in tourist numbers during the tournament. Although officials are describing the incident as isolated, the fact that it was planned in advance and carried out at one of the country’s most prominent sites has raised questions about whether it is now underway as Mexico’s final stages of preparation take place.
