World Cup
Cartel violence fuels doubts about FIFA World Cup games in Mexico
Hugo Alejandro Pérez was in his house a few miles from the Mexican stadium that is slated to host FIFA World Cup games when gunfire and explosions erupted just outside his door.
The 53-year-old restaurant owner was already skeptical about his city, Guadalajara, hosting the international sporting event.
He saw a government that failed to fix basic things, like water service to his home, along with cartel violence in the surrounding state of Jalisco and shook his head. The surge of bloodshed this week following the Mexican military’s killing of the country’s most powerful cartel boss offered more confirmation of his doubts.
“I don’t think they should host the World Cup here,” Peréz said. “We have so many problems, and they want to invest in the World Cup? With all the violence, it’s not a good idea.”
Peréz joined other people Tuesday in questioning Guadalajara’s capacity to be a host city for the summer soccer competition, even as the Mexican government vowed that the international event — hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States and Canada — will not be affected.
President offers ‘every guarantee’ for World Cup
President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked at her daily news briefing what guarantees there are that World Cup matches will be held in Jalisco. “Every guarantee,” she said, adding that there was “no risk” for fans coming to the tournament.
Jalisco Gov. Jesús Pablo Lemus said he had spoken with local FIFA officials, who have “absolutely no intention of removing any venues from Mexico. The three venues remain completely unchanged.”
The same day, the Portuguese soccer federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation” in Mexico.” Its national team was scheduled to play Mexico’s team in a friendly on March 28 at the newly renovated Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is scheduled to host the opening World Cup match on June 11.
Jalisco, in western Mexico, was already facing scrutiny. The state has been plagued by some of the starkest examples of cartel violence in recent years, including the discovery of a cartel killing site at a ranch last March and a crisis of disappearances.
The state, with Guadalajara as its capital, is the central hub for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, whose leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, or “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday in a capture attempt by the military.
The operation and waves of violence killed 70 people. Cartel gunmen set fire to cars to block streets in states across the country, namely Jalisco, and fought with Mexican forces into Monday as the government said the conflict was under control.
The death of Oseguera Cervantes came as Mexico’s government has stepped up its offensive against cartels in an effort to meet demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to crack down on criminal groups. The cartel, also known as CJNG, is one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico.
The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries.
Drug lord’s death could lead to more violence
Peréz, the restaurant owner, also commended Sheinbaum’s efforts to go after cartels, saying the government has taken cartel violence more seriously than her predecessors. At the same time, he said, local authorities in Jalisco have fallen short in protecting civilians.
The root concern for many is that the death of “El Mencho” could pave the way for more violence. Killing capos, in what’s become known as the “kingpin strategy,” has been criticized by Sheinbaum herself because it can often spark internal conflict between cartel factions and push rival cartels to make territorial grabs.
Vanda Felbab-Brown, an academic at the Brookings Institution, said she doesn’t see more acts of “revenge” by the cartel as likely, but the future remains uncertain, especially after leading figures in both CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel have been knocked out in recent years.
“If there is no clear line of succession (in CJNG), we might see a lot of fighting within the cartel, its breakup, and there are a lot of scenarios,” she said.
On Sunday, when firefights broke out between the cartel and soldiers, and gunmen began to burn a car just feet in front of Peréz’s house, he let people on the street scramble inside his home to seek cover. The fighting raged for an hour.
Now he says he doesn’t see the point of holding the games, adding that he doubts any of the money from the games will trickle down to businesses in working-class neighborhoods like his, even if they are just a 10-minute drive from the stadium. Similar tensions have simmered in Mexico City.
The World Cup is expected to be a $3 billion economic engine in Mexico, according to the Mexican Soccer Federation.
“It doesn’t help us residents at all, honestly. They should move it to Monterrey or Mexico City. But right now here, we’re not convinced,” he said. “Things aren’t in good enough shape for foreigners to be coming to Jalisco for an event like this.”
On Monday, some foreign tourists trapped in the violence in the city of Puerto Vallarta took to social media to warn of the violence, with a few remarking that they didn’t plan to return.
Despite that, Guadalajara was snapping back to its normal rhythm Tuesday. Many businesses opened their doors for the first time in two days, and streets were packed with traffic.
Workers were busy fixing up the exterior of the soccer stadium that will host World Cup matches. Cyclists zipped around outside the stadium, and parents played with children in parks.
Heavily armed police officers and National Guard members roamed the city, a sign for some that the government had the situation under control.
Juan Carlos Pila, a 55-year-old taxi driver, rolled his eyes at the reports of violence after spending two days waiting with his family for things to calm down. He said social media and local news outlets were overplaying the extent of the violence.
“People should come, man. Everyone is welcome,” he said.
Others, like Maria Dolores Aguirre, simply hoped for the best. Aguirre runs a small corner story in the cobblestoned tourist town of Tapalpa tucked away in Jalisco’s mountains, where Mexico’s military killed “El Mencho.”
Aguirre’s family business of over 50 years depends on the flow of tourists to the normally sleepy town. Now she worries bloodshed will deal a blow to her livelihood and change towns like hers.
“It’s going to affect us. It’s collateral damage,” Aguirre said. “The government is going to have to have a lot of security. … The entire world just saw what happened and, of course, people are going to think twice about coming.”
-AP
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK.
Morocco’s Ismael Saibari may not have broken the FIFA World Cup record for the fastest goal, but his lightning strike against Scotland has earned a place among the standout moments of the 2026 tournament and helped propel the Atlas Lions to the top of Group C.
Saibari stunned Scotland by finding the net just 69 seconds after kick-off in Morocco’s 1-0 victory on Friday, giving Walid Regragui’s side a priceless three points and strengthening their prospects of reaching the knockout stages.
The midfielder’s early breakthrough immediately sparked debate among fans and pundits, with many wondering whether it was the fastest goal of the tournament and where it ranked among the quickest strikes in World Cup history.
A look through the tournament’s record books reveals that the all-time mark remains safely in the hands of former Turkish striker Hakan Şükür, who scored after just 11 seconds in Turkey’s 3-2 victory over South Korea in the third-place match at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.
Şükür’s goal, officially timed at 10.8 seconds, came after Turkey forced an error straight from kick-off before the prolific striker calmly beat goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae.
Saibari’s goal, created by an incisive pass from Brahim Díaz before the midfielder powered home from inside the penalty area, does not threaten that long-standing record. However, it ranks among the fastest goals seen at the current tournament and underlines Morocco’s growing reputation as one of the most dynamic teams in the competition.
Only Paraguay’s Matías Galarza scored quicker during the second round of group matches, finding the net after 64 seconds in his country’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Turkey. Paraguay ended a 16-year wait for a World Cup win despite playing the entire second half with ten men after Miguel Almirón was sent off under FIFA’s new regulations for covering his mouth.
For Morocco, however, the significance of Saibari’s strike extends beyond statistics.
The goal proved decisive against a Scottish side that struggled to recover from the early setback as the Atlas Lions controlled proceedings and secured a victory that lifted them to the summit of Group C.
While Saibari remains some distance from the elite list of the fastest goals in World Cup history—headed by Şükür, followed by Czechoslovakia’s Václav Mašek (15 seconds), Germany’s Ernst Lehner (24 seconds), England’s Bryan Robson (28 seconds) and American Clint Dempsey (30 seconds)—his effort has already become one of the defining moments of Morocco’s campaign.
With four points from two matches and momentum building, Morocco will be less concerned with record books than with extending their stay in North America. Yet Saibari’s explosive start against Scotland has ensured that his name will be remembered among the quickest marksmen of World Cup 2026.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Ronald Koeman endured defeat against Sweden on his international debut for the Netherlands more than four decades ago, and for years that remained his only encounter with the Scandinavians as a player. On Saturday, however, the Dutch coach enjoyed sweet revenge from the touchline as his side produced a scintillating 5-1 victory over Sweden at the FIFA World Cup.
The emphatic win at the World Cup strengthened the Netherlands’ grip on the top of Group F and marked a memorable chapter in Koeman’s long association with Dutch football.
Koeman lost 3-0 to Sweden when he made his Oranje debut in 1983, and despite going on to earn 78 caps and establish himself as one of the most celebrated defenders of his generation, he never faced the Swedes again during his playing career.
Now as national team coach, he watched his side dismantle Sweden with an attacking display led by striker Brian Brobbey, who justified his selection ahead of record scorer Memphis Depay with two early goals.
Brobbey put the Dutch ahead in the opening minutes and doubled the advantage in the 17th minute, giving the Netherlands firm control of the contest.
The Swedes, who had opened their campaign with a convincing 5-1 victory over Tunisia, struggled to contain the Dutch attack. Any hopes of a comeback were effectively extinguished shortly after halftime when Cody Gakpo struck twice in a seven-minute spell to stretch the lead to 4-0.
Substitute Anthony Elanga briefly gave Sweden something to cheer about when he pulled a goal back in the 59th minute, but the effort proved little more than a consolation.
The Netherlands completed the rout in the closing stages when Crysencio Summerville weaved his way to the edge of the penalty area before finishing expertly in the final minute to make it 5-1.
The result lifted the Dutch to four points from two matches and to the summit of Group F, while Sweden remained on three points.
Attention in the group now turns to Monterrey, where Tunisia and Japan were scheduled to meet later on Saturday in a match carrying added historical significance as the 1,000th fixture in FIFA World Cup history.
For Koeman, however, the day belonged to the Netherlands and a long-awaited measure of satisfaction against the nation that spoiled his international debut 43 years ago.
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By Kunle Solaja, New York
When Nigeria and Argentina met in Porto Alegre during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the encounter quietly entered football folklore as the 800th match in World Cup history.
Twelve years later, another African nation is poised to be part of an even greater milestone.
Tunisia’s Group F clash with Japan on Saturday at Monterrey Stadium will be recorded as the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history, adding a unique layer of significance to an already groundbreaking 2026 tournament.
The historic fixture, scheduled in Monterrey, Mexico, is more than just a group-stage contest between two ambitious nations.
It is a celebration of football’s remarkable global journey from a competition once dominated by Europe and South America to a truly worldwide event embracing every continent.
For Tunisia, the occasion represents another chapter in a distinguished World Cup story.
The North Africans already occupy a special place in football history. In Argentina 1978, Tunisia became the first African nation to win a World Cup match, coming from behind to defeat Mexico 3-1 and shatter long-held perceptions about African football’s place on the global stage.
Nearly half a century later, the Eagles of Carthage find themselves at another historic crossroads.
“Being able to take part in the 1,000th FIFA World Cup match is truly symbolic,” Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri said ahead of the encounter.
“Playing a World Cup match is always an honour and a dream come true, but taking part in the 1,000th one is very special. It makes you appreciate all the history of this competition – the greatest matches and the greatest players who wrote the most incredible chapters in World Cup history.”
The significance of the milestone extends beyond the two teams involved.
If the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 featured only 13 participants, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has expanded to an unprecedented 48 teams competing across Canada, Mexico and the United States. The growth mirrors football’s transformation into the world’s most universal sport, with FIFA now boasting more member associations than the United Nations.
The road to this landmark fixture began decades ago.
When the 100th World Cup match was played during the 1954 tournament in Switzerland, only a handful of nations outside Europe and South America had ever qualified for the finals. Africa’s representation was minimal, Asia’s opportunities were limited, and much of the world remained on football’s periphery.
Even by 1994, when the United States hosted the tournament and Nigeria made its memorable debut, access remained restricted. Africa had just two guaranteed qualification places, while Asia was allocated only three. Yet that tournament offered early evidence that football’s centre of gravity was shifting.
Significantly, Nigeria was also involved in another World Cup milestone. Due to simultaneous kick-offs on the final day of the group stage at USA ’94, Nigeria’s match against Greece shared the distinction of being among the 500th matches in tournament history.
Today, the landscape has changed dramatically.
A record 209 nations embarked on the qualification journey for the 2026 finals. Africa and Asia together received 17 direct qualification slots, while Oceania secured a guaranteed place for the first time. Football’s expansion has created opportunities for countries that previously viewed World Cup participation as an almost impossible dream.
The benefits have already been evident during the opening stages of the tournament.
Cape Verde’s heroic draw against Spain, Haiti’s spirited showing against Scotland, DR Congo’s impressive result against Portugal and Curaçao’s memorable goal against Germany have all demonstrated the value of a more inclusive World Cup. Such moments resonate far beyond the final whistle, inspiring future generations and strengthening football cultures across the globe.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu believes the milestone reflects football’s unique ability to unite people across borders.
“It is a great honour for us to take part, as Japan’s national team and as Asia’s representative, in the historic 1,000th match of the FIFA World Cup,” Moriyasu said.
“I believe football is one of the most powerful means of connecting people across the globe. We are already witnessing supporters from different countries interacting regardless of nationality. Football connects people, nations and cultures.”
The timing of the milestone could hardly be more symbolic.
The 1,000th match will feature an Asian powerhouse seeking to surpass its previous best performances and an African nation making its third consecutive World Cup appearance. The setting is North America, host of the first 48-team World Cup, reflecting the tournament’s increasingly global character.
The match itself carries immediate sporting significance. Japan entered the contest buoyed by an entertaining 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, while Tunisia sought redemption following a difficult opening defeat to Sweden.
Yet regardless of the result, both teams will forever occupy a special place in football’s record books.
When the players emerge at Monterrey Stadium, they will not simply be contesting three points in Group F. They will be participating in a moment that encapsulates nearly a century of World Cup history and illustrates how far the game has travelled since 13 teams gathered in Uruguay in 1930.
From Tunisia’s groundbreaking victory in Argentina 48 years ago to Saturday’s landmark encounter in Mexico, the story remains one of football breaking barriers and expanding horizons.
The 1,000th World Cup match is not merely a numerical milestone. It is a testament to the enduring appeal of the world’s most popular sporting event and a powerful symbol of football’s ability to unite nations, cultures and generations.
As Skhiri aptly put it: “Hopefully we’ll put in a performance worthy of the occasion.”
For Tunisia, Japan and football itself, the stage is set for history.
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