World Cup
Mexico City’s Zocalo breaks Guinness World Record for largest soccer class ahead of World Cup
Thousands of Mexicans packed the heart of their capital on Sunday to kick, pass, and celebrate their way into the record books, turning one of the world’s most iconic public squares into the largest football class ever recorded.
Mexico City’s Zocalo — a vast stone plaza that has witnessed revolutions, earthquakes and papal visits — hosted 9,500 people for a roughly 40-minute mass training session that shattered the previous Guinness World Record, set in Seattle with 1,038 participants.
“We registered 9,500 people today, so I have the fortune of telling you that as of now, you are ‘officially amazing’, congratulations,” Guinness World Records judge Alfredo Arista said at the end of the class.
“Today we broke this great Guinness World Record, more than 9,000 people gathered and showed that we are capable of achieving the extraordinary and the impossible,” said Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada after receiving the award.
“With this record, the city sends a message to the world: ‘Sport, soccer, is the universal language, a language of peace that needs no translation.’ Congratulations Mexico City, today we kick off the World Cup,” she added.
The event forms part of a broader campaign dubbed the “Social World Cup”.
In the crowd were families in green, white and red jerseys, children clutching black and golden footballs, elderly neighbours stretching alongside professional coaches as instructors led drills under a clear morning sky, with the sound of cathedral bells in the background.
Among those present on the stage were members of the Mexico women’s team that won the 1971 Women’s World Cup, an unofficial tournament held in Mexico City that drew some of the largest crowds in the history of the women’s game, as well as former male players like goalkeeper Oscar “El Conejo” Perez.
A RECORD WITH A SHADOW
However, the celebration had undertones of national tension.
“I’m excited about the World Cup, but there are a lot of political issues in the country right now,” participant Paulina Rosas told Reuters, reflecting the concerns of many Mexicans amid recent cartel violence.
Last month, the Mexican army killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as ‘El Mencho ‘, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). This triggered reprisals across multiple states, bringing Guadalajara — one of the three Mexican cities hosting the World Cup — to a near standstill.
For weeks, there has been uncertainty, with President Claudia Sheinbaum even reinforcing that there will be security guarantees.
Despite this, people are still hopeful about Mexico’s third time hosting the World Cup. Co-hosted with the United States and Canada, the tournament will begin with an opening match at the Estadio Azteca on June 11.
“If we maintain this spirit, I’m sure we’ll enjoy it,” Rosas added.
That spirit was evident outside the main square, where the festive atmosphere continued. People played “cascarita”, an informal form of football around the perimeter, while many were dancing to the rhythms of a “batucada” percussion band.
“The class was pretty simple, and a lot of people here don’t even know how to play football, but that wasn’t the point, it’s about the people, the community,” said 67-year-old Pedro Garcia.
For many of those standing shoulder-to-shoulder in Zocalo on Sunday morning, it felt like a warm-up for what is to come in June.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Egypt will play Saudi Arabia in a friendly in Jeddah on March 27 after both sides shifted their international‑window training camps from Qatar due to travel disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the federations said on Sunday.
Qatar had planned to stage a wider football festival this month that would have included the ‘Finalissima’ between Spain and Argentina. Still, the event was scrapped after UEFA cancelled the match due to regional instability.
The Saudi federation said their squad would now train in Jeddah and Serbia and play an additional friendly away to Serbia in Belgrade on March 31 as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Egypt said the Jeddah match was arranged to ensure strong preparation for the finals in North America later this year, thanking Qatar for its initial efforts to host the festival.
Egypt will play in Group G in the June-July tournament alongside Belgium, Iran and New Zealand. At the same time, Saudi Arabia are drawn in Group H with Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been sanctioned by FIFA following disciplinary incidents that occurred during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying encounter.
According to FIFA’s latest disciplinary overview released for the World Cup qualifiers, both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Congolese Football Association were found guilty of separate infractions during the match played on 16 November 2025.
FIFA stated that Nigeria was penalised for a breach relating to order and security at matches, specifically involving the throwing of objects by spectators. The offence falls under Article 17and Article 17.2.b of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and the NFF was consequently fined 1,000 Swiss Francs.
On their part, the DR Congo federation received a heavier sanction after supporters were found to have used laser pointers or similar electronic devices during the match. The act contravenes Article 17.2.d of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, leading FIFA to impose a 5,000Swiss Francs fine on the Congolese body.
FIFA emphasised that disciplinary decisions are taken based on the circumstances of each case and may still be subject to appeal. The governing body also noted that the document summarising the sanctions is intended mainly as information for the media, while the official legal decisions are communicated directly to the parties involved.
The Nigeria–DR Congo fixture was among several World Cup qualifying matches worldwide that attracted disciplinary scrutiny, with national associations and players sanctioned for a variety of offences ranging from crowd disturbances to player misconduct.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Iraq will travel to Mexico at the end of the week for their World Cup playoff despite calls from coach Graham Arnold to postpone the match as they are facing travel disruption due to the Middle East conflict, the country’s FA president Adnan Dirjal said on Saturday.
Iraq are due to face either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on March 31. Regional airspace has been closed since February 28, when U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, grounding several flights.
Dirjal said in a video statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency that the federation had written to world soccer’s governing body FIFA to explain “the situation in the region and the difficulties facing the national team”.
He added that FIFA had been “cooperative” and helped overcome logistical obstacles.
He confirmed Iraq had secured entry visas and would fly on a chartered aircraft, with Europe-based players joining separately.
Arnold had urged FIFA to delay the playoff, warning that Iraq may not be able to assemble a full squad which would hurt their bid to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- DIPLOMACY7 days ago
Trump calls on Australia to give asylum to Iranian women’s soccer players
- OBITUARY6 days ago
Nigeria’s Sports Community Mourns Adegboye Onigbinde, A Life Devoted to Football
- World Cup1 week ago
Iraq coach calls for delay to World Cup playoff amid travel shutdown
- DIPLOMACY1 week ago
Morocco Backs Gulf Security, Condemns Iranian Attacks Against Brotherly Arab States
- OBITUARY7 days ago
Breaking! Former Super Eagles Coach Adegboye Onigbinde Dies Four Days After Clocking 88
- World Cup3 days ago
Iran’s World Cup uncertainty: Could Nigeria benefit from a rare FIFA wildcard?
- World Cup1 week ago
1990 World Cup Winner Riedle Backs Spain, France, Brazil for 2026 Glory
- OBITUARY2 days ago
BREAKING: Another Blow for Nigerian Sports as Henry Nwosu Dies at 62