Four high-profile domestic football matches in Mexico were postponed on Sunday following a deadly military operation against a notorious drug cartel leader near one of the host cities for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The unrest, centred in the western state of Jalisco, has intensified concerns over security preparations ahead of the global tournament.
The violence erupted after Mexican armed forces carried out an operation in the town of Tapalpa, roughly two hours from Guadalajara, a designated World Cup host city. During clashes between soldiers and supporters of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the cartel’s leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho”, was reportedly gravely wounded. He later died while being transported to Mexico City, according to security sources.
News of his death triggered retaliatory violence across at least eight Mexican states. Authorities reported that approximately a dozen vehicles were set ablaze, highways were blocked with burning debris, and sporadic armed confrontations were recorded. Security forces have since reinforced patrols in affected areas.
As a precautionary measure, Mexico’s top-flight men’s league suspended the Querétaro v Juárez FC fixture, while the women’s league postponed the high-profile Chivas v América match. Two second-division games were also cancelled.
A summary of the affected fixtures is set out below:
| Competition Level | Fixture | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liga MX (Men) | Querétaro v Juárez FC | Estadio Corregidora | Postponed |
| Liga MX Femenil | Chivas v América | Scheduled venue | Postponed |
| Second Division | Match 1 | Various | Cancelled |
| Second Division | Match 2 | Various | Cancelled |
Attention has now turned to the international calendar. Mexico’s national team is scheduled to face Iceland in a friendly at Estadio Corregidora on Wednesday. The Mexican Football Federation has yet to confirm whether the fixture will proceed as planned.
Jalisco’s governor, Pablo Lemus Navarro, issued a statewide alert via social media, urging residents to remain indoors. Public transport services were temporarily suspended in several municipalities, and additional National Guard units have been deployed.
The CJNG is considered one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations, with an estimated 19,000 members and operations spanning 21 of the country’s 32 states. During the administration of Donald Trump, the cartel was designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States. A reward of 15 million US dollars had been offered for information leading to El Mencho’s capture.
Elsewhere, organisers of the ATP “Mexican Open”, due to begin on Monday at the GNP Arena in Acapulco, stated that the tournament would proceed as scheduled. Nevertheless, with four World Cup matches set to be staged in Guadalajara in June — including two involving South Korea, as well as fixtures featuring Spain, Uruguay and Colombia — the recent violence is likely to sharpen international scrutiny of Mexico’s security arrangements.
With the world’s attention turning towards the tournament, ensuring stability in host cities will now be a paramount challenge for the Mexican authorities.