Mexico human rights groups warn of permanent surveillance after World Cup

Human rights organizations have released a joint report titled ‘Gritar gol y gritar ¡justicia!’, documenting patterns of repression and rights violations in Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2026. The report warns that surveillance measures and increased police control implemented for the tournament may become permanent fixtures in host cities including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

Key findings include the repression of social protests, attacks on the press, and the displacement of vulnerable populations. The report notes 21 documented episodes of containment against social movements, particularly in Mexico City. Security forces reportedly targeted collectives of families searching for missing persons and teachers' unions using tactics such as exclusion zones and physical barriers.

Financial concerns were also raised regarding the reallocation of funds. In Jalisco, while budgets related to searching for missing persons increased, organizations claim the majority of this growth was diverted to command and control centers like the C5, rather than field searches or human identification efforts.