Mexico Vs Iceland friendly to go ahead as coach says fans 'safe' after cartel leader's death
The mexico vs iceland friendly in Queretaro is scheduled to proceed on Wednesday at the Corregidora Stadium despite nationwide unrest following the killing of a powerful cartel leader, and Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said the federation has assured him that everyone will be safe.
Mexico Vs Iceland still scheduled in Queretaro
Mexico plans to play Iceland at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro on Wednesday; the team held a scheduled training session in Queretaro on Monday and the match was expected to take place as planned. Tickets for the game are sold out, with a crowd of 30, 000-plus expected inside the Estadio Corregidora.
Coach Aguirre: 'We're very calm, relaxed, training'
Javier Aguirre said before the match at the Estadio Corregidora that the federation promised everyone would be safe. "We're sensitive to the current situation, " Aguirre said, adding: "The people at the FMF have assured me that everyone will be safe. " He later said, "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 El Mencho's death sparked roadblocks and burnings
On Sunday, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed El Mencho and the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, was killed by the Mexican army in a targeted attack. The killing caused widespread backlash: individuals burned cars and blocked roads in protest, and cartel members blocked roads and burned vehicles in nearly a dozen states across Mexico. Those disturbances forced the federation to postpone Sunday's Liga MX match between Queretaro and Juarez FC and the Chivas vs. America match in Liga MX Femenil.
FIFA and organizers monitoring World Cup host cities and upcoming fixtures
FIFA has requested reports from Mexico on the security situation and internal documents sent from FIFA Mexico to FIFA headquarters in Zurich summarized events between Sunday and the early hours of Monday so the governing body can determine if any security issues exist and take next steps. FIFA is closely monitoring events, particularly in Guadalajara, Jalisco, which is scheduled to host four World Cup games in June, including two involving South Korea; co-host Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Colombia are also scheduled to play there.
Playoffs, friendlies and World Cup schedule remain on the calendar
Monterrey and Guadalajara are set to host FIFA interconfederation playoff matches in March that will determine two of the remaining six World Cup participants; Bolivia, Suriname, New Caledonia, Jamaica, Iraq and DR Congo are all set to compete in those playoffs. For now, officials say there are no signs that Mexico's ability to host the World Cup or the interconfederation playoff matches is at risk. Mexico also has a pre-World Cup friendly scheduled with Portugal on March 28 in Mexico City, a match in which Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to take part, and Mexico will play the tournament's opening game against South Africa in Mexico City on June 11.
Reactions, security assurances and other notes
FIFA president Gianni Infantino spoke from Barranquilla, Colombia, during the inauguration of the Colombian Football Federation's hotel and reaffirmed his total confidence in Mexico's preparations for the 2026 World Cup, saying local authorities are fully prepared to maintain order and security. The CJNG cartel is described as the most powerful in Mexico, with an estimated 19, 000 members and operations spanning 21 of the country's 31 states and Mexico City; it was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. Separately, a brief media caption noted Herculez Gomez reacting to Mexican midfielder Obed Vargas making the move to Atletico Madrid from MLS side Seattle Sounders.
A different note captured in the context: a website message said a reader's browser was not supported and asked users to download a modern browser for the best experience. Unclear in the provided context is any direct link between that message and the match coverage.
What happens next: the mexico vs iceland friendly at the Corregidora Stadium is set for Wednesday, Mexican authorities are maintaining public-security operations around events, and organizers are evaluating the situation ahead of the March interconfederation playoffs and Mexico's March 28 friendly with Portugal.
