Mexico plans to go ahead with its friendly match against Iceland on Wednesday at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro, despite ongoing unrest and violence in the country, sources informed ESPN on Monday. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho and the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, was killed on Sunday by the Mexican army in a targeted operation, triggering significant backlash from cartel members. Protesters set vehicles ablaze and blocked roads, prompting the FMF to postpone the Liga MX matches scheduled for Sunday between Queretaro and Juarez FC, as well as Chivas vs. America in the women’s league.
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These postponements raised concerns about Wednesday’s friendly, but the Mexico team proceeded with its planned training session in Queretaro on Monday. A source from the Mexican federation told ESPN that the match is expected to occur as scheduled. The unrest has also led FIFA to seek reports concerning the security situation in Mexico, sources disclosed. FIFA is closely observing the events from Sunday and Monday, particularly in Guadalajara, Jalisco, which is set to be one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup this summer.
Guadalajara is slated to host four World Cup matches in June, including two involving South Korea. Co-hosts Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, and Colombia will also compete there. Prior to the summer matches, Monterrey and Guadalajara will host FIFA interconfederation playoff games in March, with teams from Bolivia, Suriname, New Caledonia, Jamaica, Iraq, and DR Congo contending for two of the remaining six World Cup spots.
Internal documents sent from FIFA Mexico to the Zurich headquarters provided a summary of events from Sunday into the early hours of Monday, allowing the governing body to assess potential security concerns and determine subsequent actions.
Currently, sources indicate no signs that Mexico’s capability to host the World Cup or the interconfederation playoff matches is at risk. Mexico also has a pre-World Cup friendly set against Portugal in March, where global star Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play. As a World Cup host, Mexico will kick off the tournament against South Africa in Mexico City on June 11.
The CJNG cartel is recognized as the most powerful in Mexico, boasting an estimated 19,000 members and operations across 21 of the country’s 31 states, including Mexico City. It has been classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
