Mexico search groups discover 60 bags of human remains near 2026 FIFA World Cup host city
Search collectives in Mexico say they have recovered at least 60 bags containing human remains and three complete bodies from a clandestine burial site near Guadalajara, less than a month before the city hosts matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The burial site is located in Las Pintitas in the municipality of El Salto, part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area in Jalisco state. Footage from Saturday showed the area sealed off by state police, with forensic vehicles and investigators working alongside volunteer search groups.
Authorities began investigating the site after receiving an anonymous tip on April 25.
Search collective member Cecilia Flores said the scale of the discovery continues to grow.
“So far, I believe there are around 60 bags, as well as three complete bodies and many signs of charred remains,” said Flores, who is part of the Searching Mothers of Sonora collective.
Flores added that the anonymous source claimed some nearby homes may have been built over buried remains.
“The anonymous source even says some houses were built over the bodies, and that many remains may be buried beneath them. So how do we deal with that? How do we tell someone to tear down their home because one of the bodies may be underneath it?” she said.
Members of the search groups also criticised Mexican authorities, accusing them of failing to provide enough support to families searching for missing relatives.
“They can’t stop the World Cup, but they can stop denying support to the many mothers and grandmothers who deserve and need it,” said Adriana Ornelas, another member of the collective.
The discovery adds to the growing number of clandestine graves uncovered in Jalisco in recent years, highlighting Mexico’s ongoing crisis of disappearances and unidentified remains.
Several of the major burial sites discovered in the region are located near Guadalajara International Airport and Estadio Akron, one of the venues scheduled to host World Cup matches and international visitors during the tournament.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
