GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) 鈥� With the about to begin, heavily armed police and National Guard officers are patrolling the streets of as authorities try to reassure visitors and residents that security won鈥檛 be an issue in a city that was rocked by cartel violence earlier this year.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, will host four World Cup matches including on the opening day Thursday. Mexico is co-hosting the with the United States and Canada.
Local officials say visitors have nothing to worry about despite the outbreak in violence in February following the Mexican military鈥檚 killing of the . The killed 70 people as cartel gunmen set fire to cars to block streets and fought with Mexican forces.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to remember that normalcy returned to the state in less than 48 hours after what happened in February,鈥� Alfonso Brise帽o, the security coordinator in Jalisco told The Associated Press in the run-up to the World Cup. 鈥淚 invite all tourists, all citizens of other countries, especially those who will be playing here in Guadalajara… They will be welcome. The Mexican government and the state of Jalisco guarantee their safety.鈥�
Brise帽o stressed that Jalisco has not faced any security issues recently and that a resurgence of trouble was not expected. He said local authorities were prepared to react quickly if anything happened again.
Nearly 15,000 security personnel have been deployed in the region, including National Guard officers with assault rifles and vehicle-mounted machine guns near the stadium where the games will be played.
鈥淲e are feeling very safe. We are not concerned about the same issues that we had a few months ago,鈥� said Rodolfo Valencia, a 22-year-old resident of Guadalajara. 鈥淵ou can see a lot more police on the streets and there is a sense that there won鈥檛 be any problems around here. Having the World Cup here has helped because the authorities had to take action and make sure that everything goes well.鈥�
Jalisco state is the central hub of the , whose leader , or 鈥淓l Mencho,鈥� was killed in a capture attempt by the military in February.
Security in Guadalajara will be a special concern for the June 26 match between Spain and Uruguay, when Spain’s King Felipe VI is expected to attend.
Mexico has stepped up security countrywide
More than 100,000 soldiers, marines, National Guard and police officers were expected to be deployed across the three Mexican host cities 鈥� Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey 鈥� as well as in major tourist destinations during the World Cup.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday the 鈥渢he opening ceremony is guaranteed鈥� and 鈥渢he World Cup will be enjoyed.鈥�
Anti-drone teams, surveillance-camera networks, special crowd management units and military and police patrols will operate during the duration of the tournament at Mexican stadiums, fan fests, airports, national-team camps and other strategic facilities in coordination with FIFA.
Cartel violence may be less of an issue than by groups trying to capitalize on the World Cup spotlight to cause unrest, traffic disruptions and bringing central parts of the city to a standstill.
Demonstrators recently knocked down figures of World Cup soccer players, broke into a government building and even played a soccer match on a blockaded street.
Teachers, families of animal rights groups and a range of other social movements in Mexico were trying to put pressure on authorities and make demands.
The U.S. Embassy on Tuesday reiterated its travel advisory for Americans to reconsider going to Jalisco. It also advised visitors to exercise extreme caution in Mexico City and Nuevo Le贸n, where Monterrey is located.
Brise帽o dismissed concerns about security in the region.
鈥淲e are prepared for any contingency,鈥� he said in Guadalajara. 鈥淲e are going to be the best venue, the most Mexican, the most hospitable, and the safest.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Mar铆a Verza in Mexico City contributed to this report.
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