A deadly shooting transpired at a Salamanca, Guanajuato state, Mexico soccer field, resulting in the death of 11 individuals and injuring 12 others on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The culprits, arriving in multiple vehicles, fired a barrage of approximately 100 shots at families lingering after a soccer game.
At the Cabañas pitch located in the Loma de Flores district, ten victims were pronounced dead on site, with another succumbing to their injuries at a hospital. Among the injured were a woman and a minor.
The mayor of Salamanca, César Prieto Gallardo, stated that the assailants arrived post-match. “Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to subjugate authorities, something they are not going to achieve,” said Prieto. He pleaded for assistance from President Claudia Sheinbaum and spoke of the ongoing crime wave plaguing the city.
The reason behind the horrifying incident remains unclear. An ongoing investigation has been initiated, with security forces dispatched to the crime scene. This event occurred a day after five individuals were murdered, and another was abducted in the city.
This violent episode is the latest in a series of escalating criminal activities associated with organized crime in Salamanca, located in central Mexico. Guanajuato state, where Salamanca resides, topped the list for the highest murder rate in Mexico the previous year.
Two prominent criminal factions, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, also known as the Santa Rosa de Lima gang, have been engaged in a brutal battle for control in the region. These groups are involved in a variety of illegal activities including oil theft, fuel theft, drug trafficking, and extortion throughout the state.
Due to the presence of a significant Pemex refinery, Salamanca has become a focal point for these criminal organizations engaged in fuel theft.
The U.S. has taken decisive actions against both factions. President Donald Trump designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and sanctioned the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel.
In response to U.S. pressure, Mexican authorities have handed over 37 high-impact suspects to the U.S., while American forces have launched at least 36 strikes against vessels suspected of drug smuggling by sea, resulting in at least 125 casualties.
Despite the surge in violence, the Mexican government reported a decline in the country’s murder rate in 2025, with 17.5 murders per 100,000 residents, marking the lowest rate since 2016.
The recent shift in cartel violence targeting civilians at public events like soccer matches has caused widespread fear. Such attacks demonstrate the readiness of these criminal groups to strike soft targets frequented by families.
Recreational spaces like soccer fields have traditionally been safe community gathering places in Mexican towns and cities. The attack in Salamanca shattered this sense of security, targeting families during a community bonding activity.
The massacre unfolded during what should have been a celebration of community and sport. According to Mexican media reports, the Cabañas field was hosting the first match of the finals for the Liga Premiere Loma de Flores, a local amateur soccer league that draws families from across the neighborhood each weekend.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as roughly 300 spectators scattered for cover when gunmen in at least three pickup trucks arrived at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time and opened fire without warning.
Forensic investigators recovered over 100 spent shell casings from high-powered weapons at the scene, underscoring the intensity of the assault. The attack lasted only minutes but left the playing field littered with bloodstains, abandoned food containers, and personal belongings left behind by fleeing spectators. Emergency responders transported the wounded to Hospital General de Salamanca, where medical staff worked through the night to treat victims, including at least one child.
The violence in Salamanca represents a broader pattern of cartel intimidation tactics targeting public spaces. Security analysts suggest that criminal organizations deliberately attack civilian gathering spots to demonstrate their power and territorial control. The presence of a Pemex refinery in Salamanca has made the city a strategic prize in the ongoing conflict over fuel theft operations, known locally as “huachicol.” This illegal industry has become the second most profitable revenue stream for Mexican cartels after drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
