In the wake of a massive surge of violence in the World‑Cup host nation Mexico, Christoph Ploß, the German federal government’s tourism coordinator, has urged FIFA to take decisive action.
Ploß told the “Handelsblatt” that FIFA must collaborate with the governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico to guarantee that fans are not exposed to danger and that the security standards set by the host countries are upheld.
Mexico will co‑host the tournament with the United States and Canada, with 13 matches scheduled in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey starting in June. The unrest was sparked by the death of Nemesio Oseguera, the cartel boss known as “El Mencho”. He was killed on Sunday during a U.S.-supported special‑forces operation. Subsequent incidents erupted at the stadium in Guadalajara, heightening security concerns.
Ploß stressed that protecting German tourists is a “very high priority” for the German government. He said officials would continuously monitor the situation in the host countries and provide regular updates to travelers. “Tourists planning to attend the World Cup can consult the Foreign Office’s website in advance” the CDU politician added.