FIFA President Gianni Infantino is standing firm on Mexico hosting World Cup matches this summer. This comes even as the country faces serious security concerns following recent cartel violence.
The violence erupted after Mexican authorities killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The military operation led to days of unrest that claimed at least 70 lives, according to officials.
Despite this, Infantino expressed "full confidence" in Mexico's ability to host. He confirmed that World Cup playoff matches at Estadio Akron in Jalisco will go ahead as planned next month. That's significant because Jalisco has been one of the hardest-hit areas.
FIFA Backs Mexican Authorities
"Nobody has to move anything," Infantino told reporters on Wednesday. "We are in constant contact with the presidency of Mexico, with the authorities." He added that FIFA has complete trust in President Claudia Sheinbaum and her team.
The FIFA boss acknowledged that both good and bad things happen in the world. "We don't live on the moon, we live here. We need to deal with it, we need to cope with it," he explained.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is scheduled to host four World Cup matches this summer. The recent violence was serious enough to force the postponement of four domestic league games on Sunday.
Teams Express Concerns
President Sheinbaum has offered "every guarantee" that the tournament will proceed safely. She insists there's "no risk" to fans planning to attend matches.
Not everyone shares that confidence though. Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaican Soccer Federation, sounded notably nervous. Jamaica is scheduled to play a playoff match there on March 26.
"The games are at the end of March, so we still have another month to see what happens; but it is making me very nervous, to be honest," Ricketts admitted. He said Jamaica is waiting for instructions from CONCACAF and FIFA about whether alternative venues might be considered.
For bettors and fans planning to attend matches, this situation adds uncertainty to Mexico's hosting duties. Any last-minute venue changes could impact team preparations and performance levels.
Local residents have also voiced concerns. Hugo Alejandro Pérez, a Guadalajara resident, told the Associated Press he doesn't think Mexico should host the World Cup. "We have so many problems, and they want to invest in the World Cup? With all the violence, it's not a good idea," he said.
The situation remains fluid with about a month until the playoff matches. FIFA appears committed to keeping Mexico as a host, but concerned federations like Jamaica are clearly monitoring developments closely.
