The discovery of 456 bags containing human remains in clandestine graves near Estadio Akron, a confirmed venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has renewed scrutiny of Mexico’s long-running crisis of disappearances and violence linked to organised crime.The remains were found at multiple sites within an estimated 10 to 20 kilometres of the stadium in the Guadalajara metropolitan area, largely in the municipality of Zapopan. The discoveries were made over several years, beginning in 2022 and continuing through late 2025, rather than during a single operation.
Where the human remains were found
Search collectives and state authorities have reported recoveries from several locations around Zapopan. These include areas known as Las Agujas, Arroyo Hondo, Nextipac, and Lomas del Refugio, according to local reporting and statements from civilian search groups.The largest recovery occurred at Las Agujas in 2025, where searchers reported finding hundreds of bags, accounting for the majority of the total figure cited to date. Many of the burial sites were located on abandoned or semi-rural land, locations often used for clandestine graves due to limited oversight and delayed law-enforcement response.
Who found them
A significant share of the discoveries was led by civilian search collectives, including Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco. These groups are largely made up of families searching for missing relatives and often operate with minimal resources.Search collectives rely on anonymous tips, basic equipment and volunteer labour. Activists argue that limited forensic capacity, investigative backlogs and persistent impunity have forced families of the disappeared to carry out work that should fall to the state.
Violence and organised crime context
Jalisco is one of Mexico’s most violent states and has long been affected by disputes between criminal organisations. Authorities and experts say clandestine graves in the region are commonly linked to organised crime, although no comprehensive forensic report has formally attributed every site to a specific group.The state is widely regarded as a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the country’s most powerful criminal organisations. Investigators and human rights groups say victims in the region are often killed during territorial disputes, targeted as perceived enemies, or lured through fake job offers before being murdered. Bodies are frequently dismembered and concealed in bags to complicate identification.
How many victims are involved
Authorities have not released an official figure for the number of individuals represented by the 456 bags. Forensic experts caution that one person’s remains can be spread across multiple bags, while a single bag may contain fragments from more than one victim.Partial forensic work has provided limited insight. At Las Agujas, authorities have reported reconstructing dozens of victims from processed remains. Other nearby sites have yielded additional identifications. However, many bags remain unprocessed, and forensic analysis has been slowed by the volume of remains and limited institutional capacity.
Part of a national disappearance crisis
The discoveries form part of Mexico’s broader crisis of forced disappearances. Official data indicates that more than 130,000 people have been reported missing nationwide since 2006. Jalisco has recorded the highest number of disappearance cases of any state, with figures exceeding 15,000, according to government registries.Human rights organisations warn that many victims may never be identified due to fragmentation of remains, environmental damage and long forensic backlogs.
World Cup spotlight and public reaction
The proximity of the graves to Estadio Akron has drawn international attention as Mexico prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup. On X, reactions have ranged from outrage over human rights concerns to darkly ironic references to “ghost games”, reflecting public anger that a global sporting event could overshadow local suffering.Activists and commentators have urged FIFA to engage more directly with human rights and security concerns, arguing that tournament preparations should not divert attention from the violence affecting host communities.As of early January 2026, no comprehensive forensic report covering all 456 bags has been released, and identifications remain limited. Civilian search groups continue to press for faster forensic processing, greater transparency and sustained investigations.
