Tragedy On The Pitch: 11 Dead In Armed Attack At Mexico Soccer Field

SALAMANCA, MEXICO — A local amateur soccer match turned into a scene of carnage on Sunday evening, January 25, 2026, when a group of heavily armed men stormed a field in central Mexico. The attack, which took place in the town of Salamanca, Guanajuato, has left the community in shock and highlighted the persistent grip of cartel violence in the region.

1. The Attack: Indiscriminate Gunfire

The assault occurred around 5:20 PM local time in the Loma de Flores neighborhood.

• The Modus Operandi: Eyewitnesses reported that several armed men arrived in two pickup trucks, disembarked, and began firing indiscriminately at players and spectators on the sidelines.
• The Toll: At least 11 people were killed instantly. Local health officials confirmed that 12 others were wounded, several of whom are in critical condition at nearby hospitals.
• The Response: The Salamanca mayor’s office confirmed that a joint operation involving the National Guard and state police was launched immediately to track the attackers, though no arrests have been made as of Monday morning.

2. Guanajuato: A Region Under Siege

Guanajuato remains one of Mexico’s most violent states due to the ongoing turf war between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and local criminal syndicates.

• Soccer Field Target: This is not the first time a sporting event has been targeted; cartels often use public gatherings to settle scores or exert territorial control.
• Post-Election Tensions: The violence comes as the state struggles with a surge in homicides and disappearances, including the recent discovery of clandestine graves near major sporting venues in neighboring states.

3. Journalistic Danger: The Death of Carlos Castro

The soccer field massacre follows another grim milestone. On January 8, 2026, reporter Carlos Castro became the first journalist killed in Mexico this year.

• Context: Castro, who directed Código Norte Veracruz, was shot at a restaurant in Poza Rica, Veracruz.
• Displacement: Tragically, Castro had previously fled to Guanajuato in 2024 to escape threats, only to return to Veracruz shortly before his death. His killing underscores the extreme risks faced by those covering crime and corruption in Mexico.

Guanajuato Violence Fact Sheet: Jan 2026