World Cup
As Violence Rocks Guadalajara, FIFA Keeps Watch on 2026 Host City
Four soccer games in Mexico were postponed after violence flared near Guadalajara in the wake of a military operation that left cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera dead, with FIFA monitoring the situation in the host city for the 2026 World Cup.
Oseguera, known as “El Mencho” and mastermind of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died in custody after being injured in a special forces operation on Mexico’s Pacific coast in Jalisco state, according to the defence ministry.
“At FIFA Mexico, we are closely monitoring the situation in Jalisco and remain in constant communication with the authorities,” a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters.
“We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities.”
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that “all the guarantees” for the World Cup were in place and there was “no risk” to visitors.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino echoed the sentiment, telling reporters during an event in Colombia: “Everything is fine. It’s going to be spectacular.”
Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, one of the World Cup venues, will host playoff matches between Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia from March 26-31.
Jalisco governor Pablo Lemus said FIFA had confirmed it did not intend to remove any host cities.
The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, another World Cup venue, is set to host a friendly between Mexico and Portugal on March 28 to mark its reopening after renovations.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said it was closely monitoring developments and would decide on travel arrangements prioritising safety.
The Surinamese Football Federation is also evaluating the situation ahead of its World Cup playoff in Monterrey. “We are scheduled to arrive around March 22 or 23, but we are monitoring the situation closely,” Secretary General Mitchell Kisoor told Reuters.
MATCHES POSTPONED INDEFINITELY
The Mexican league said on its social media pages that two top-tier games scheduled for Sunday – Queretaro v FC Juarez in the men’s league and Chivas v America in the women’s league – had been postponed indefinitely.
Two second division matches scheduled for Sunday were also called off, local media reported.
Sunday’s women’s match between Necaxa and Queretaro in Aguascalientes was suspended when players fled the pitch after hearing loud noises outside Estadio Victoria, which media reports described as gunshots.
The match later resumed, with Necaxa winning 2-1.
The Mexico national team is due to face Iceland on Wednesday in a friendly fixture at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro.
Meanwhile, organisers of the Mexican Open men’s tennis tournament in Acapulco said the event would begin on Monday as scheduled under established security protocols.
TENNIS TOURNAMENT PROCEEDED AS PLANNED
The Merida Open women’s tournament in the eastern part of the country also proceeded as planned.
“The WTA is aware of security incidents reported in parts of western Mexico,” the WTA said in a statement, adding that authorities had increased police presence around the tournament venue.
“The safety of players, staff, and spectators remains our top priority.”
After reports of El Mencho’s death, suspected cartel members blockaded highways with burning cars and torched businesses in more than half a dozen states. No civilian deaths were reported.
In Jalisco’s popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, frightened tourists on social media described plumes of dark smoke rising into the sky from around the bay.
Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico and American Airlines suspended flights in the area.
-Reuters
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday there was “no risk” to fans coming to the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after violence erupted following the capture and death of Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader, notably in Jalisco state.
Sheinbaum said “all the guarantees” for safety were in place for the top international soccer tournament, which is expected to draw hordes of fans from around the world to matches in Mexico City, Monterrey and Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara.
She said during her daily morning press conference, the situation was normalising, with security forces working to safeguard the public, after loyalists of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera set up roadblocks and torched buses and stores across the country in retaliation for his slaying in a military raid on Sunday.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told reporters on Tuesday that he was feeling “very calm” about Mexico hosting this summer’s tournament. “Everything is going to be spectacular,” he said.
A spokesperson for FIFA said the organisation was closely monitoring the situation and was in close contact with the authorities.
“We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities,” the spokesperson said.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus on Tuesday reaffirmed the state’s participation in the tournament and confirmed a series of upcoming events in the region.
“There is absolutely no intention on FIFA’s part to remove any venues from Mexico. The three venues remain completely firm,” Lemus said.
Mexico is set to host 13 of 104 World Cup matches. Four of these are set to be held in Guadalajara. It will also host some preliminary warm-up matches before the tournament opens on June 11.
Local Mexican leagues postponed some matches that had been scheduled for Sunday, the day cartel members coordinated a series of violent attacks across the country in the aftermath of an operation to capture Oseguera, known as “El Mencho”.
Sheinbaum has largely followed the political map of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who prioritised alleviating poverty and other root causes of violence, adopting a slogan of “hugs not bullets.”
Asked whether the killing of Oseguera marked a break from that policy, Sheinbaum said this would never be the case.
“The detention of a suspected criminal with an arrest warrant can generate this type of circumstance, but we are looking for peace, not war,” she said.
The arrests of other top cartel figures in Sinaloa state have, in recent years, also triggered cartel retaliation, including shootouts and vehicles set on fire.
-Reuters
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With the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ gathering pace, FIFA has spotlighted a compelling subplot ahead of the tournament in North America: experience on the touchline.
According to FIFA, fourteen coaches preparing for the global finals have previously led teams at the World Cup — a blend of decorated champions, seasoned tacticians, and returning strategists eager for another shot at glory.
Among them are two World Cup-winning coaches — Didier Deschamps and Lionel Scaloni — while veterans such as Javier Aguirre and Marcelo Bielsa trace their World Cup managerial journeys back to 2002.
Experience: Advantage or Illusion?
FIFA notes that while experience can provide tactical depth and psychological maturity, it does not guarantee success. Nor does a lack of World Cup pedigree eliminate the possibility of a breakthrough.
Scaloni offers a recent example. Entering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ without prior experience as a head coach at the finals — though he had served as an assistant in 2018 — he guided Argentina to the title in one of the most dramatic tournaments in history.
Still, FIFA observes that returning to the World Cup stage for a second or third campaign brings a different understanding of pressure, preparation, messaging, and tournament rhythm.
Here is a closer look at the returning masterminds set to patrol the technical areas in 2026.
Didier Deschamps (France): 2018, 2022, 2026
At 57, Deschamps will oversee one of France’s most gifted generations, spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe. Having lifted the trophy as captain in 1998 and as coach in 2018, he came within a whisker of defending the crown in 2022, losing an epic final to Argentina.
A third World Cup campaign places him among the most experienced leaders at the tournament.
Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay): 2002, 2010, 2026
Nicknamed “El Loco,” Bielsa will uniquely have managed three different nations at the World Cup — Argentina, Chile, and now Uruguay.
His 2002 Argentina side suffered a shock group-stage exit. In 2010, Chile showed flashes of a golden generation before falling to Brazil. Now with Uruguay, he seeks redemption after their disappointing Qatar 2022 campaign.
Herve Renard (Saudi Arabia): 2018, 2022, 2026
Renard’s World Cup résumé includes Morocco in 2018 and Saudi Arabia in 2022, where he masterminded one of the tournament’s greatest upsets — a 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina.
He returns to the global stage after a stint with France at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™.
Javier Aguirre (Mexico): 2002, 2010, 2026
“El Vasco” has been a constant presence in Mexico. Twice, he led El Tri past the group stage, only to fall in the Round of 16. Now, on home soil in 2026, Aguirre faces perhaps the most demanding chapter of his World Cup career.
Roberto Martinez (Portugal): 2018, 2022, 2026
Martinez enjoyed a high in 2018 when Belgium finished third. Four years later, their golden generation faltered in the group stage. Now leading Portugal as UEFA Nations League champions, he seeks to channel his experience into another deep run.
Zlatko Dalic (Croatia): 2018, 2022, 2026
Dalic steered Croatia to the 2018 final and followed up with a third-place finish in 2022. With a new-look squad emerging, his 2026 challenge begins in a demanding group featuring England, Ghana, and Panama.
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina): 2022, 2026
From assistant in 2018 to champion in 2022, Scaloni now returns seeking to defend the title. FIFA notes that repeating the feat would place him among the rare managers to lift the trophy twice — a distinction that eluded Argentine icons Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo in successive tournaments.
Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay): 2022, 2026
After guiding Ecuador to a spirited showing in Qatar, Alfaro now leads Paraguay back to the World Cup stage for the first time in 16 years.
Walid Regragui (Morocco): 2022, 2026
The architect of Morocco’s historic fourth-place finish in Qatar remains at the helm. FIFA describes that campaign as one of the tournament’s most outstanding in history.
Hajime Moriyasu (Japan): 2022, 2026
Japan topped a formidable group in Qatar before falling on penalties to Croatia. Moriyasu now aims to push the Samurai Blue beyond the Round of 16 barrier.
Hong Myungbo (Korea Republic): 2014, 2026
After a difficult 2014 campaign, the former national captain returns with a rejuvenated squad eager to make a stronger impression.
Otto Addo (Ghana): 2022, 2026
Addo stepped down following Ghana’s early exit in 2022 but returned in 2024, leading the Black Stars back to the global finals by October 2025.
Vladimir Petkovic (Algeria): 2018, 2026
Having led Switzerland to the knockout stage in 2018, Petkovic now takes charge of Algeria as they return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence.
Murat Yakin (Switzerland): 2022, 2026
Yakin guided Switzerland through a dramatic group in Qatar before suffering a heavy defeat to Portugal in the Round of 16. He returns determined to build on that foundation.
A Tournament of Second Chances
As FIFA emphasises, the World Cup offers no guarantees — not for veterans nor debutants. Experience may sharpen instincts, but football’s greatest stage has always belonged to those who adapt fastest to its unforgiving rhythm.
When the FIFA World Cup 2026™ kicks off across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the spotlight will not only shine on the players. It will also rest firmly on the men pacing the technical areas — some chasing history, others redemption, all united by one more opportunity at football’s ultimate prize
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World Cup
25 Soldiers Killed as Cartel Violence Rocks World Cup Co-Host Mexico After ‘El Mencho’ Death
Security concerns have intensified in the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-host Mexico following deadly cartel reprisals triggered by the capture and death of notorious crime boss Nemesio Oseguera, alias “El Mencho.”
Mexico’s Security Minister Omar García Harfuch confirmed on Monday that 25 members of the National Guard and one security guard were killed in coordinated cartel attacks that erupted after Oseguera’s death on Sunday.
Vehicles drive past a burning bus used as a roadblock in Zapopan, Mexico. REUTERS/Gabriel Trujillo
The violence, concentrated largely in Jalisco state, has raised fresh questions about security preparedness as the country prepares to stage matches at next year’s global football showpiece.
Firefighters work to extinguish flames of a vehicle on fire in Guadalajara, Mexico. REUTERS/Michelle Freyria
Oseguera, long considered Mexico’s most-wanted criminal and leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died in custody after being injured during a special forces operation in the town of Tapalpa, according to the defence ministry. The United States had previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Police officers secure the area where vehicles were set on fire in Zapopan, Mexico. REUTERS/Gilberto Gallo
Defence Minister Ricardo Trevilla disclosed that intelligence leading to Oseguera’s capture stemmed from information provided by a romantic partner of the cartel leader.
In the hours following confirmation of his death, suspected cartel operatives launched a wave of retaliatory attacks. Roads were blocked with burning vehicles, cars were torched, and gunmen targeted security personnel in multiple locations.
A forensic ambulance believed to be transporting the body of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera leaves the Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime in Mexico City. REUTERS/Stringer
“El Mencho’s death triggered 27 cowardly attacks against authorities in Jalisco,” García Harfuch told reporters at the president’s daily press briefing. He added that 30 suspected cartel operatives were killed in the clashes, alongside one civilian bystander. At least 70 people have been arrested across seven states.
“We are closely monitoring for any kind of reaction or restructuring within the cartel that could lead to violence,” the security minister said.
The unrest comes at a sensitive time for Mexico, which will co-host the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Canada. Guadalajara — in Jalisco state — is one of the designated host cities, while Mexico City and Monterrey are also scheduled to stage matches.
Smoke billows from burning vehicles in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. @morelifediares via Instagram/Youtube/via REUTERS
Although federal authorities have not indicated any immediate changes to World Cup planning, analysts say the recent violence underscores the scale of the security challenge facing organisers of the tournament, which is expected to attract millions of visitors.
The developments also drew international reaction. U.S. President Donald Trump called on Mexico to intensify its crackdown on organised crime, writing on social media: “Mexico must step up their effort on Cartels and Drugs!”
Mexican authorities insist that security forces remain in control and that preparations for major international events, including the World Cup, will proceed under strengthened safety protocols.
For football officials and fans alike, the focus now shifts to whether calm can be restored swiftly in a nation preparing to welcome the world’s biggest sporting event.
A member of the National Guard stands on a vehicle at the site on the highway connecting Mexico City with the state of Puebla, where unknown assailants torched a bus and a trailer, following roadblocks and arson attacks carried out by members of organized crime in several states after a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” was killed in Jalisco state, in Santa Rita Tlahuapan, Mexico, February 22, 2026. REUTERS/Paola Garcia
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