Mexico’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have come under renewed scrutiny after a deadly shooting at the Teotihuacan pyramids on Monday, April 20, prompting President Claudia Sheinbaum to acknowledge gaps in security and call for stronger measures ahead of the tournament. The attack, which took place less than three months before the World Cup begins, has raised direct concerns about visitor safety as Mexico prepares to host matches alongside the United States and Canada.
What happened at Teotihuacan
The shooting occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time at the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about an hour from Mexico City and one of the country’s most visited tourist attractions. A lone gunman opened fire from the top of the pyramid while dozens of tourists were present, firing 14 shots at civilians as well as National Guard military police, according to Mexican officials. One Canadian tourist was killed and 13 others were wounded. Those taken to hospital included six US citizens, three Colombians, two Brazilians, one Russian and one Canadian. The victims ranged in age from six to 61. Video footage circulating in local media showed people ducking for cover as gunshots rang out, with the attacker visible standing on top of the structure. Authorities later confirmed that the gunman, identified as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A firearm, knife and ammunition were recovered from his belongings.
Forensic workers carry the body of a victim down a pyramid after authorities said a gunman opened fire, in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Security officials said the attack “wasn’t spontaneous,” with Mexico State prosecutor Jose Luis Cervantes Martinez stating that the suspect “made preliminary visits on multiple occasions to the archaeological site, stayed in hotels near the site ahead of time, and from there planned his violent acts.”
Government response and admission on security gaps
Speaking at her morning press conference in Mexico City on Tuesday, April 21, Sheinbaum said the site lacked sufficient safeguards to prevent such an attack. “Evidently, we need to tighten security,” she said, adding that authorities must ensure “someone can’t enter an archaeological site, a tourist site, with a firearm.” She described the shooting as “an isolated incident,” while also acknowledging the need for immediate action. “Our obligation as a government is to take the 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 had not previously taken place.” The incident triggered questions from reporters the following morning about the country’s readiness to host international visitors during the World Cup.
Wider context: World Cup planning and existing 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 in Mexico City on June 11, where the national team is scheduled to face South Africa in a repeat of the 2010 opener. The country will host 13 matches across three cities:
- Mexico City – 5 matches, including the tournament opener
- Monterrey – 4 matches, including a Round of 32 fixture on June 29
- Guadalajara – 4 matches, including Mexico vs South Korea on June 18
The Teotihuacan site itself was expected to be a key destination for visiting fans, located close to the capital and drawing more than 1.8 million international visitors annually. Just days before the attack, local lawmakers had pushed to revive a nighttime 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 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)
The shooting comes after earlier concerns around security, particularly following a surge in cartel-related violence in February linked to the death of drug lord “El Mencho” (Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes).
Security measures and FIFA’s position
Mexican authorities have already outlined extensive security plans for the tournament. The government has committed to deploying 100,000 security personnel nationwide, with a focus on host cities Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Officials have also confirmed the use of more than 2,000 military vehicles, along with drones, aircraft and reinforced security perimeters around stadiums, airports and transport routes. “As you can see, we are very prepared for the World Cup,” Sheinbaum said in March.
Police frisk visitors as the Teotihuacan pyramids reopen 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 has also backed Mexico’s readiness, saying: “I want to say from the outset that we have total confidence in Mexico, in President Claudia Sheinbaum, in the authorities, and we are convinced that everything will turn out in the best possible way.” He added: “As in every country in the world, things happen, which is why we have states, police and authorities who will ensure order and security… from FIFA’s side, I have absolute confidence.”
Where things stand
The Teotihuacan shooting has not changed the World Cup schedule, but it has placed renewed focus on security, particularly at tourist sites expected to see increased footfall during the tournament. While authorities continue to present the incident as isolated, the fact that it was planned in advance and carried out at one of the country’s most prominent landmarks has raised questions that now sit alongside Mexico’s final phase of preparations.
