Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, assured on Wednesday that there is “confidence” in the organization of preparation matches for the 2026 World Cup and ruled out problems for the games planned despite the wave of violence that the North American country experienced on Sunday after the death of ‘El Mencho’, leader of the Jalisco Cartel – New Generation (CJNG).
“Yesterday (said) also (Gianni) Infantino (president) of FIFA, we are in communication, that he has confidence. And there is no problem, on the contrary, there is confidence,” said the president during her morning press conference. The Mexican president responded to reports of possible doubts about the celebration of an upcoming friendly match between Mexico and Portugal in March, which will feature Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.
“There is no problem” for Azteca
Sheinbaum highlighted a text in which the Mexican Football Federation and the Portuguese Federation expressed their “mutual desire” for the preparation match between the two national teams to take place.
This will take place on March 28, 2026 at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico, which will host the opening of the World Cup on June 11.
In other words, there is no problem at all
Claudia Sheinbaum
Mexico will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with the United States and Canada.
The tournament includes preparatory matches and previous activities in different cities of the country.
Sheinbaum maintained that there is communication with the international soccer authorities and that there are no obstacles to the organization of the matches.
FIFA maintains its “total confidence” in Mexico for the 2026 World Cup
Sheinbaum’s statements come just a day after Infantino said he has “total confidence in Mexico” to host the 2026 World Cup.
That it has matches scheduled in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, despite the violence unleashed in the country.
The death in a military operation on Sunday in Jalisco of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho’, leader of the Jalisco Cartel – New Generation, unleashed a wave of violence in Mexico.
That raised international concerns about whether the country will be able to guarantee security during the World Cup.
In this regard, the governor of the Mexican state of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus, stated that on Monday there was a meeting with the FIFA offices in Mexico.
World soccer’s governing body said it has no intention of taking the 2026 World Cup host city away from Mexico, which will host five matches at the Azteca Stadium, four in Guadalajara and four in Monterrey.
With information from EFE
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