Tragic Attack in Salamanca: Gunmen Kill 11 During Local Football Game

Mon Feb 02 2026 22:21:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A violent incident at a football pitch in Salamanca, Mexico leaves 11 dead and over a dozen injured, as investigations continue into the motives behind the shooting.

On January 25, 2026, a shooting at a football pitch in Salamanca, Mexico resulted in at least 11 fatalities and over 12 injuries. Witnesses report that gunmen arrived in vehicles and opened fire on locals, including families who were socializing post-match. The motive remains unclear, but the region has been plagued by gang violence, particularly involving disputes between drug cartels. Local and federal officials are investigating the incident as Guanajuato state suffers from a surge in cartel-related violence.

At least 11 people were killed and another dozen injured when gunmen opened fire on locals who had gathered at a football pitch in the city of Salamanca in central Mexico on January 25, 2026.

Witnesses described armed assailants arriving in multiple vehicles and firing indiscriminately at the crowd. Among the deceased were reportedly a woman and a child, with many families present at the field post-match.

The motive for this brutal attack is currently unclear, but Guanajuato state, where Salamanca is located, recorded the highest number of murders in Mexico last year. Neighbours reported hearing more than 100 gunshots during the assailants' attack on the Cabañas pitch in the Loma de Flores neighbourhood.

Investigations are underway by local and federal authorities in response to the shooting, which occurred just a day after several violent incidents in the city including five other murders and an abduction. The state of Guanajuato has been experiencing a spike in violence perpetrated by gang factions involved in illegal activities such as oil theft, drug trafficking, and extortion.

Salamanca, home to a major Pemex oil refinery, has become a frequent target for gang violence. Analysts suggest that fierce rivalry between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Cartel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL) fuels much of the brutality in the area. These gangs not only influence violence in Mexico but also contribute to crime extending into the United States through the smuggling of stolen fuel and illicit drugs.

The U.S. State Department designated the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization last year, highlighting the international implications of such cartel activities. In a bid to combat drug challenges, U.S. President Donald Trump has prioritized actions against the cartels, and recently, the Mexican government has cooperated in extraditing high-profile suspects to the U.S. to combat narcotics trafficking.