Journalist gunned down in Mexico as World Cup kicks off

A journalist was killed in the Mexican state of Veracruz on Thursday, hours before the country hosted the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.

Luis Ángel López Valdez, a crime reporter for the Vanguardia de Veracruz news outlet, was fatally shot in the city of Poza Rica in the northern part of the state, the paper said.

According to the report, the vehicle he was travelling in was intercepted by armed persons in the early hours of the morning.

The reporter is believed to have received threats prior to his death.

The University of Guadalajara's Observatory on Freedom of Expression and Violence against Journalists has released a statement condemning the murder and calling for an extensive investigation.

It said the incident represented a "serious attack on freedom of expression".

"Violence against journalists not only silences individual voices but also weakens democracy and violates the collective right to information," it added.

Crime journalist Carlos Castro was also killed in Veracruz in January.

A UNESCO press release at the time said Castro, who worked for Código Norte Veracruz, had previously been under protection from local authorities, but this had reportedly been withdrawn at the time of his death as he had lived outside the state for a period of time.

Mexico is regarded as one of the most dangerous and deadly countries for working journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based NGO dedicated to defending access to free information.

RSF says on its website that more than 150 journalists have been murdered in the country since 2000, with 28 also having gone missing.

Journalists in Mexico, particularly those who cover sensitive topics such as crime or politics, often face threats and warnings and battle collusion between organised crime gangs and local authorities, per the RSF.

The latest killing comes amid heightened security around Mexico as the 2026 World Cup gets underway.

Mexico will host games across Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey, with the national side playing all three of its group fixtures on home soil.

Mexico began the tournament with a 2-0 victory against South Africa in the capital's Estadio Azteca on Thursday.