Mexico Soccer: Friendly Against Iceland to Proceed in Querétaro Despite Cartel Violence
Violence that erupted across broad swaths of Mexico on Sunday after a notorious drug lord was killed by the military led to canceled events and shelter-in-place orders, but the Mexico vs. Iceland friendly in Querétaro is set to go ahead — a development that matters for mexico soccer because it touches on crowd safety and broader questions about Mexico’s capacity to host major international matches.
Mexico Soccer friendly kept on despite weekend unrest
On Sunday, public events in several states were canceled and four soccer matches were called off as authorities issued shelter-in-place directives. Online rumors gained traction that day, though most of those accounts were unreliable and unconfirmed. The worst violence occurred in and around Guadalajara, which is one of three Mexican host cities for the upcoming global soccer tournament.
Domestic leagues, detonations and canceled fixtures
Partly fueling the speculation was the decision by Liga MX to cancel a Sunday afternoon match while Ascenso MX postponed two matches. The Liga MX Femenil also postponed the América–Chivas derby that had been scheduled at the Guadalajara stadium where four World Cup matches are slated to be played. Separately, a Liga MX Femenil match in Aguascalientes — 223 kilometers (138 miles) northeast of Guadalajara — was suspended for a few minutes when detonations were heard near the stadium.
Querétaro venue, team movements and local response
The cancellation of a Liga MX contest in the north-central city of Querétaro, about 350 kilometers (217 miles) southeast of Guadalajara, drew attention because Mexico’s national team is scheduled to face Iceland at that same venue on Wednesday night. The Iceland squad arrived in Querétaro on Saturday night and team officials have not publicly expressed opposition to playing the game. Mexico's players — all from Liga MX clubs — assembled in Mexico City on Sunday before traveling to Querétaro for Monday and Tuesday training sessions.
Federation stance, safety concerns and attendance plans
The national soccer federation (FMF) has insisted since Sunday that the match would take place as planned, while also considering a range of logistical measures should alternatives be necessary. An FMF source said the match was unlikely to be canceled but emphasized that the safety of those attending remained the main concern. One contingency considered was staging the game behind closed doors, but the FMF now anticipates 30, 000 fans will be cheering on El Tri at La Corregidora Stadium.
Security approvals, governor confirmation and next steps
After consulting with the state Security Cabinet on Monday night, local authorities consented to allow the game to proceed with enhanced security provided by federal, state and local agencies. Querétaro officials were scheduled to meet with the FMF on Tuesday to finalize details. Governor Kuri confirmed that the Mexico vs. Iceland match set for Wednesday would go ahead with public access and remained unchanged after recent security events were addressed.
Wider implications for Mexico’s international hosting role
A national sports outlet said on Monday there were no signs or indications that Mexico’s ability to host the World Cup or next month’s interconfederation playoff matches are at risk. FIFA will be watching the security operation at Wednesday’s game and developments across the country over the coming days and weeks, but Mexico’s World Cup hosting status seems assured for now.
