Criminal cartels cashing in on Mexico World Cup

Excitement is mounting in Mexico as the World Cup opens in Mexico City, then heads to the city of Guadalajara. Mexican journalist Leon Krauze was there the last time the World Cup came to Mexico and will be watching again. He says Guadalajara has a mythical footballing past: "Pele’s Brazil played there in 1970, then Zico and Socrates played there in 1986.

There is a real football memory there, a love affair between Guadalajara and football in general, and I expect it to be a wonderful party." But he says it won’t be straightforward. Guadalajara is the capital of a state, Jalisco, which has become the centre of one of the most notorious criminal outfits in Mexican history.

There will be a huge security presence during the tournament. Krauze links that to how the US president, Donald Trump, has reacted to the drugs trade in Venezuela, kidnapping the country’s prime minister.

Mexico, Mexico City, Guadalajara

world cup, mexico, mexico city, guadalajara, jalisco, cartels, security presence, leon krauze, drugs trade, donald trump