World Cup 2026: Families of the Disappeared Create an “Album”

Just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, relatives of missing persons in Mexico found a new form of protest: transforming search flyers into cards similar to those found in a soccer album to attract the attention of tourists and fans.

The initiative seeks to highlight a crisis that exceeds 130,000 disappearance cases in the country, taking advantage of the global attention the tournament will generate.

An “Album” So the Missing Persons in Mexico Are Not Forgotten

Missing persons in Mexico: Relatives create World Cup album – Photo: EFE

In Guadalajara, one of the World Cup host cities, collectives of relatives pasted search flyers in areas near the FIFA Fan Festival and tourist sites.

The images were adapted with a World Cup-inspired style: the faces appear with Mexican national team jerseys and designs similar to traditional soccer albums. The intention is to connect emotionally with visitors and raise awareness.

“It is meant to connect with all soccer fans and send a message that celebrating is not wrong; what is wrong is to stop naming those who are missing,” explained Héctor Flores, a member of the Luz de Esperanza collective.

Each of these “little cards” represents a missing person and, according to the organizers, keeps alive the possibility of finding them.

Criticism of Public Spending on the World Cup

Photo: EFE. Missing persons in Mexico: Relatives create World Cup album

In addition to raising visibility around the issue, the families questioned the public investment allocated to the World Cup.

They said that while millions of pesos have been allocated to construction projects and preparations, key institutions are facing limitations. As an example, they mentioned the lack of staff hiring at the Deputy Prosecutor’s Office for Missing Persons and the shortage of advisers for thousands of cases in Jalisco.

“Those resources were more needed somewhere else,” Flores said, stressing that even part of that budget could have helped move investigations forward.

A Strategy to Apply Pressure During the Tournament

Photo: EFE. Missing persons in Mexico: Relatives create World Cup album

The collective plans to maintain its actions throughout the World Cup.

Its goal is to take advantage of the arrival of millions of tourists and international coverage to generate pressure on authorities. Although they acknowledge there will be controls in tourist areas for security reasons, they trust in the visibility the event can provide.

The search flyers, which were once only informational tools, have become a constant form of protest amid the lack of answers.

With the World Cup as a global showcase, the collectives hope their message will go beyond soccer and keep the demand for justice alive.

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