Five police officers were shot dead and five others injured on Wednesday in Mexico’s violence-plagued Michoacán State, less than 24 hours before the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City.
The attack has heightened concerns about security in the North American nation as it prepares to host one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Local authorities confirmed that the officers came under armed attack in Michoacán, a region long troubled by powerful drug cartels and organised criminal groups. Details surrounding the circumstances of the ambush were not immediately available.
The deadly assault comes amid growing tensions across Mexico, where authorities are already grappling with large-scale protests and security challenges ahead of Thursday’s World Cup opener at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
On Wednesday, thousands of demonstrators blocked a major avenue leading to the stadium, threatening to disrupt preparations for the tournament’s opening ceremony and first match between Mexico and South Africa.
