Mexico Vs Iceland: Friendly goes ahead as safety assurances issued
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said the federation has promised that everyone will be safe at the upcoming mexico vs iceland friendly in Querétaro, amid a wave of unrest after the killing of a powerful cartel leader. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at the Estadio Corregidora.
Aguirre: Everyone will be safe
"We're sensitive to the current situation, " Aguirre said before the match at the Estadio Corregidora. "The people at the FMF [Mexico Football Federation] have assured me that everyone will be safe. " He added: "We're here. We're very calm, relaxed, training, we talk about sports. That's the message I can send to the fans as a football coach. "
Cartel leader killed, unrest follows
On Sunday, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed "El Mencho" and the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, was killed. His death prompted backlash across the country that led to the postponement of Queretaro and Juarez FC matches, and the postponement of Chivas vs. America in Liga MX Femenil. Following the death, cartel members blocked roads and burned vehicles in nearly a dozen states across Mexico.
Mexico Vs Iceland match details
Despite growing doubts about Wednesday's friendly between Mexico and Iceland, confirmation on Monday said the game would still go as planned. Tickets for Wednesday's game are sold out and there's a crowd of 30, 000-plus that will be expected inside the stadium.
Portugal friendly and federation response
Aguirre also said he hopes to face Portugal soon in an upcoming Mexico City friendly on March 28. Portugal's federation posted Tuesday that they are currently evaluating the situation and said it was "closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico. "
FIFA inquiries and Infantino's remarks
Ahead of the World Cup that will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer, FIFA requested reports from Mexico on their security situation. On Tuesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino reaffirmed his total confidence in Mexico's preparations for the 2026 World Cup, asserting that local authorities are fully prepared to maintain order and security for the tournament.
Speaking from Barranquilla, Colombia, during the inauguration of the Colombian Football Federation's hotel, Infantino said: "We are analyzing and monitoring the situation in Mexico during these days, but I want to say from the start that we have total confidence in Mexico, in its president, [Claudia] Sheinbaum, and in the authorities. We are convinced that everything will proceed in the best way possible. " He added: "Mexico is a great soccer country. Just like in every country in the world, things happen; we don't live on the moon or another planet. Things happen, and that is why we have governments, police, and authorities who are going to ensure order and security. "
Organizers and the national team have maintained a focus on training and preparation while authorities evaluate the broader security situation. The match remains set for Wednesday at the Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro with a sold-out crowd expected.
Unclear in the provided context: whether additional security measures will be publicly detailed ahead of the match beyond the assurances cited above.
The team and federation have reiterated that sport and preparation continue amid the evolving situation.
