The Mexico Guides

US Raises Jalisco to Level 3 for World Cup Travelers

· 2 min read Travel News
Guadalajara city skyline ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches

Contents

  1. What Level 3 Means in Practice
  2. Recommendations for Fans Heading to Guadalajara
  3. The Broader Advisory Picture

The U.S. State Department issued an updated travel advisory for Mexico on June 10, 2026 — one day before the FIFA World Cup kicked off — and the headline change is significant for fans heading to Guadalajara: Jalisco state has been elevated to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).

Mexico City and Nuevo León, hosting five and four World Cup matches respectively, remain at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). The Yucatán Peninsula states stay at Level 1. But Jalisco, which hosts four matches at Estadio Akron, now carries an elevated designation that all travelling fans should understand before they arrive.

What Level 3 Means in Practice

A Level 3 advisory does not mean fans must cancel plans. It formally recommends that travellers reconsider the trip and take extra precautions if they proceed. The advisory cites organised crime activity in parts of Jalisco outside the greater Guadalajara metro area. Tourist zones and the stadium area are not the focus of the designation, and FIFA alongside Mexican federal authorities have deployed significant security resources to all World Cup venues.

That said, some travel insurance policies exclude destinations under a Level 3 or higher advisory. Check your cover before departure.

Recommendations for Fans Heading to Guadalajara

  • Stay in the hotel and tourist zones in central Guadalajara and avoid travel into rural or coastal Jalisco.
  • Book official ground transport to and from Estadio Akron rather than using informal taxis or accepting rides from strangers.
  • Enrol in the STEP program (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) if you are a U.S. citizen, to receive real-time security alerts and facilitate consular assistance if needed.
  • Verify your insurance. Confirm that your policy covers travel to a Level 3 advisory destination; contact your insurer directly if in doubt.
  • Allow extra time at checkpoints. Security screening at World Cup venues in Mexico is thorough; plan to arrive at least 90 minutes before kick-off.

The Broader Advisory Picture

Six Mexican states carry a Level 4 (Do Not Travel) designation, a figure unchanged by this update. Popular tourist corridors — Cancún, the Riviera Maya, Oaxaca, and Mexico City’s historic centre — are unaffected by the Jalisco change. The update reflects long-standing security conditions in the state rather than a new specific incident.

For a full breakdown of venues, match schedules, and what to expect at Mexican stadiums, see our World Cup 2026 Mexico guide. Fans travelling to the city for the matches will find venue transport and neighbourhood advice in our Guadalajara guide. For a state-by-state breakdown of current advisory levels across the country, our safety in Mexico guide is updated regularly throughout the tournament.