At least 11 killed after gunmen open fire at football match in Mexico

January 27, 2026 Oliver Obel

Gunmen killed at least 11 people at a local football match in western Mexico over the weekend, turning a neighbourhood sporting event into the latest flashpoint in the country’s ongoing struggle with organised crime.

The attack occurred on January 25 in Salamanca, a city in the central state of Guanajuato that has been repeatedly affected by cartel-related violence in recent years.

Local authorities said the shooting took place at a football pitch in the Loma de Flores district shortly after a match between amateur teams had finished. Many players and spectators were still gathered at the ground when the attackers arrived.

Salamanca mayor Cesar Prieto said several armed men reached the site at around 5.20pm and opened fire on the crowd, according to Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto reporting by the Daily Mail. Emergency services later confirmed that 10 people died at the scene, with an eleventh victim dying from injuries in hospital. At least 12 others were wounded.

BBC News reported that families had remained at the pitch to socialise after the final whistle and that the victims included at least one woman and one child.

Witnesses told investigators that the attackers arrived in two pickup trucks before firing indiscriminately at players and spectators. The Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office said it had opened an investigation and was coordinating with federal security forces to reinforce patrols in the area.

Speaking after the attack, Prieto described the killings as part of a broader surge in criminal violence affecting the city and appealed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for additional federal support. “Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to subjugate authorities, something they are not going to achieve,” he said.

Guanajuato has recorded Mexico’s highest homicide total in recent years, driven largely by clashes between the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. While the federal government has said the national murder rate fell in 2025 to its lowest level since 2016, security analysts have warned that official figures may not fully capture the scale of violence in some regions.

The Salamanca shooting came a day after other violent incidents in the city in which five men were killed and another abducted, highlighting the persistence of insecurity despite increased enforcement efforts.

Mexico is scheduled to host matches during the 2026 World Cup in cities including Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Salamanca is located several hours from the tournament venues, though Guanajuato borders the state of Jalisco, where matches will be played.

Sources: BBC News, Daily Mail