Portugal weighs canceling Mexico friendly amid cartel violence

Portugal’s soccer federation said Tuesday it may skip the March 28 friendly at Mexico City’s renovated Azteca Stadium due to surging cartel violence.usnews
The killing of drug lord “El Mencho” by Mexico’s military on Sunday triggered retaliatory attacks across multiple states, leaving at least 73 dead, according to CBS News.cbsnews
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said there is “no risk” for World Cup visitors, while FIFA said it is closely observing developments.espn

Portugal Evaluates Travel to Mexico for Friendly Match Amid Security Concerns

The Portuguese Football Federation said on Tuesday that it is “closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico” and will rely on government guidance before committing to a scheduled March 28 friendly against Mexico at the renovated Estadio Azteca, now renamed Estadio Banorte.usnews

The announcement comes days after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious cartel leader known as “El Mencho,” during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday. His death triggered a coordinated wave of retaliatory violence across multiple Mexican states, with cartel gunmen setting vehicles ablaze, blocking highways, and attacking security forces. At least 73 people died in the operation and its aftermath, including 25 National Guard troops killed in six separate attacks in Jalisco, according to Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch.aljazeera

A High-Profile Reopening at Risk

The friendly was designed to mark the grand reopening of Mexico City’s iconic stadium following an extensive renovation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The venue is set to host the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. The prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo playing in Mexico City for the first time had generated considerable excitement around the fixture.espn

The Portuguese federation acknowledged the honor of being invited to inaugurate the refurbished venue but said “the recent evolution of events requires continuous evaluation of the conditions” the national team and its delegation would face. It added that “any decision will be made as a result of ongoing monitoring, in close coordination with the government and in line with the Mexican Football Federation, an entity with which the Portuguese Football Federation maintains excellent institutional relations and regular contact”.espn

Mexico Insists World Cup Is Safe

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pushed back against security concerns during her Tuesday morning press conference, telling reporters there is “no risk” for visitors and that there are “all the guarantees” for the World Cup to proceed as planned. She said the situation in Jalisco, where violence was most intense, is “stabilizing” and that Guadalajara and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta are slowly reopening.usnews

A FIFA representative told Reuters on Monday that the organization is “closely observing the developments in Jalisco and maintaining ongoing communication with the authorities”.theguardian

Meanwhile, Mexico’s friendly against Iceland is set to go ahead on Wednesday in Querétaro with an estimated 30,000 fans in attendance, after the Icelandic federation confirmed its squad had arrived and local authorities approved enhanced security measures. Portugal, which also faces the United States on March 31 in Atlanta, has not set a deadline for its decision on the Mexico City match.as