Guadalajara: The heart of Mexican culture and soccer

Akron Stadium, a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue, sits in Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The people of Guadalajara like to brag about it being the most Mexican city in the country. And perhaps they’re right. After all, the state of Jalisco, where the western city is located, is the birthplace of the mariachi band and tequila.

Besides the music and the famous drink, Guadalajara is a city of stunning colonial beauty and deep-rooted passion for soccer, having already hosted two World Cups in 1970 and 1986. However, security concerns arose following a federal military operation in late February that resulted in the death of CJNG drug cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes .

Local and federal authorities, as well as FIFA officials, have expressed confidence in the city’s security for the World Cup.

Last March, the city hosted two matches of the intercontinental playoff, and more than 80,000 fans attended without incident.

The Guadalajara Cathedral remains the city’s most recognizable silhouette with its unique neo-Gothic yellow spires. Inside, you’ll find the reliquary of Santa Innocence and a collection of historic art.

The Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a former orphanage that is an architectural marvel designed by Manuel Tolsá. It houses 57 breathtaking murals by José Clemente Orozco.

Guadalajara’s culinary identity is defined by bold, spicy flavors that are a source of immense local pride, but be warned: the spice levels here are not for the faint of heart, starting with the iconic “Torta Ahogada,” a crusty birote roll stuffed with fried pork and submerged in a spicy tomato sauce.