Mexican Crime Reporter Shot Dead Hours Before World Cup Kickoff

A crime reporter in Veracruz was fatally shot in Poza Rica on June 11, just hours before Mexico hosted the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Luis Ángel López Valdez, who worked for a local news outlet, had reportedly received threats prior to the attack. Witnesses say armed men intercepted his vehicle in the early morning. The University of Guadalajara’s Observatory on Freedom of Expression condemned the killing as a grave blow to free speech and urged authorities to conduct a full investigation. This follows the January murder of another Veracruz crime journalist, Carlos Castro, who had been under local protection. Reporters Without Borders notes that more than 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000, making it one of the world’s deadliest countries for the press. As Mexico welcomes fans to matches across Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey, concerns over violence against journalists cast a shadow over the tournament.

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