Violence Leads to Postponement of Soccer Matches in Mexico
Four professional soccer matches in Mexico were postponed on Sunday following violent incidents near Guadalajara, a host city for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. This unrest happened after a military operation resulted in the death of notorious cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.”
Liga MX officials announced that two key matches were removed from the schedule: the men’s game between Queretaro and Juárez FC, and the women’s match featuring Chivas and America. Additionally, two second division games were also canceled due to safety concerns.
This turmoil stemmed from a military operation conducted that same day in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about two hours southwest of Guadalajara. Authorities stated that Oseguera, who was a former police officer turned leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG), was killed during this operation.
In the aftermath, there were reports of vehicles set ablaze and road closures that affected over a dozen states across Mexico.
Guadalajara is slated to host four matches during the 2026 World Cup, including two involving the South Korean national team. Other teams such as Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, and Colombia are also expected to play at this venue.
The Mexican national team is scheduled to play a friendly match against Iceland on Wednesday at Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro. However, as of Sunday, there had been no announcements regarding any changes to this matchup.
It’s worth noting that not all sporting events faced disruption. The organizers of the Mexican Open in Acapulco confirmed that the ATP tournament would start as planned at the GNP Arena on Monday.
In a statement, tournament organizers said, “Tournament operations will continue as normal.”
Oseguera had a $15 million bounty on his head in the United States and came to prominence after the capture of rival cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman. Over the past fifteen years, the CJNG has grown from a local crime group to a global human trafficking network operating primarily out of Jalisco.
Following the news of El Mencho’s death, cartel members retaliated by burning vehicles and blocking roads across nearly a dozen states in Mexico.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau remarked on X, “We just received word that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the most violent drug lords. This is a positive development for Mexico, the United States, and the world.”
The Mexican Pentagon stated that the operation was executed in coordination with U.S. agencies, which provided crucial intelligence that assisted in locating and killing El Mencho.
The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel is recognized as the most powerful cartel in Mexico, with around 19,000 members and a presence in 21 of Mexico’s 32 states. The Trump administration even designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
