FIFA Backs Mexico With World Cup Playoffs Weeks Away

FIFA is standing by Mexico following violent unrest in parts of the country that will host World Cup matches this summer and playoff qualifiers next month.

Violence erupted across the country over the weekend after the Mexican military killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Afterward, supposed cartel members set cars and buses ablaze, explosions and gunshots rang out, and residents were urged to shelter in place across several states. Transportation was suspended, businesses shut down, and students did not go to school in person on Monday.

Much of the chaos happened in Jalisco’s capital of Guadalajara, which is scheduled to host four World Cup matches in June and two World Cup playoff matches at the end of March. The country will also host five matches in Mexico City and four in Monterrey.

FIFA said in a statement that the governing body is “confident in the intelligence and operational capabilities of its Mexican partners.” FIFA said it would not comment on “hypothetical situations and speculation” relating to the playoff games, and would “look forward to delivering safe and secure games in close collaboration with Mexican authorities.”

The news was first reported by The Athletic.

Thousands of fans have already bought tickets for matches at Estadio Akron, putting FIFA in a precarious position. Several professional soccer matches were postponed over the weekend as airlines suspended flights to the region.

On Tuesday, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said there is “no risk” for World Cup fans and that there are “all the guarantees” for the tournament to be held in Mexico. “Little by little the situation [in Jalisco] is returning to normal,” she said. The White House did not immediately comment.

The most urgent concern for FIFA is next month’s playoff qualifiers. Guadalajara and Monterrey are each scheduled to host World Cup playoffs next month to determine some of the final spots in the tournament. In Guadalajara, New Caledonia and Jamaica will play on March 26, and the winner will face the Democratic Republic of the Congo on March 31.

While the global governing body is demonstrating a strong commitment to keeping games in Guadalajara, it could still decide to move them elsewhere. In Chicago—the biggest U.S. city not hosting—the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune already petitioned the mayor to appeal to FIFA for the games.

U.S. Soccer did not immediately respond to a question about whether it supported moving the games.

Guadalajara is hosting just four games, less than many other World Cup host cities. Those games will feature host nation Mexico, tournament favorite Spain, Colombia, Uruguay, South Korea, a UEFA qualifier, and the Guadalajara playoff qualifier. Two of those teams, South Korea and Colombia, are planning on using Guadalajara for their base camp.