MEXICO CITY — In a stark reminder of the intertwined worlds of sports and violence in Mexico, four high-profile soccer matches were postponed on Sunday following the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, known as El Mencho. The Mexican army's operation that resulted in his killing unfolded in the rural town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, roughly a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara, a key host city for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
The postponed games included two from the top-tier Liga MX men's tournament: Querétaro FC against Juárez FC, originally set for the Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro, and a women's league clash between Chivas and Club América. Additionally, two matches in the second division, Ascenso MX, were called off amid heightened security concerns. According to the Mexican Football Federation, the decisions were made in consultation with local authorities to ensure the safety of players, staff, and fans in the wake of the cartel's retaliatory actions.
El Mencho, whose real name was Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, was reportedly wounded during a confrontation with federal forces in Tapalpa on Saturday evening. He succumbed to his injuries while being airlifted to a military hospital in Mexico City early Sunday morning, sources within the Mexican defense ministry confirmed. The operation marked a significant blow to the CJNG, which has long dominated the country's drug trade and is accused of countless acts of violence, extortion, and trafficking.
News of El Mencho's death triggered immediate chaos across multiple regions. Cartel affiliates responded by setting fire to vehicles and erecting barricades on major highways in nearly a dozen states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. Reports from local media outlets described scenes of burning buses and abandoned cars clogging roads leading to Guadalajara, the heart of CJNG territory. In one incident near the state capital, gunmen reportedly fired upon police checkpoints, though no casualties were immediately reported from these clashes.
The timing of the violence could not have been more precarious for Mexican soccer. Just days earlier, the national team had been preparing for a friendly match against Iceland scheduled for Wednesday at the very same Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro where the postponed league game was to take place. As of Sunday evening, the Mexican Football Federation had not announced any changes to the international fixture, leaving fans and officials in a state of uncertainty. "We are monitoring the situation closely and prioritizing safety," a federation spokesperson said in a brief statement released late Sunday.
Guadalajara's role as a World Cup venue amplifies the stakes. The city is slated to host four matches during the tournament in June 2026, including two featuring the South Korean national team. Co-hosting nations Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, and Colombia will also play games there at the iconic Estadio Akron. Security experts have long warned that cartel influence in Jalisco poses risks to large-scale events, and El Mencho's death has only intensified those concerns. In the years leading up to the World Cup, Mexican authorities have ramped up military deployments in the region, but incidents like Sunday's roadblocks underscore the fragility of the peace.
The CJNG, under El Mencho's leadership since its formation in 2010, has grown into Mexico's most powerful criminal syndicate. According to U.S. intelligence estimates cited in various reports, the cartel boasts around 19,000 members and maintains operations in 21 of Mexico's 32 states. Its activities extend beyond drug trafficking to include fuel theft, avocado extortion in Michoacán, and even attacks on law enforcement. The group was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration in 2018, a label that allowed for broader U.S. sanctions and cooperation with Mexican forces.
El Mencho himself evaded capture for over a decade, becoming one of the world's most wanted fugitives with a $10 million bounty on his head from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Born in the mountains of Michoacán, he rose through the ranks of earlier cartels before splintering off to form the CJNG, which has been linked to some of the most gruesome violence in recent Mexican history, including the 2011 massacre of 35 people in Veracruz and numerous beheadings and mass graves discovered in Jalisco.
While soccer bore the brunt of the disruptions, not all sports events were affected. The Mexican Open, an ATP Tour tennis tournament, is set to commence Monday at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Acapulco, Guerrero—a state also plagued by cartel activity but farther from the epicenter of this week's unrest. Organizers released a statement Sunday afternoon affirming that "the tournament's operation continues as normal." Players and officials echoed this sentiment, with world No. 5 Casper Ruud, a top seed, telling reporters after a practice session that he felt secure under the event's bolstered security measures.
The postponements come at a sensitive time for Liga MX, which has been working to project an image of stability ahead of the global spotlight. The league's commissioner, Mikel Arriola, addressed the media briefly from Mexico City, stating, "The safety of our community is paramount, and we will reschedule these matches as soon as conditions allow." Fans expressed frustration on social media, with some calling for stronger government intervention, while others praised the league's cautious approach.
Broader implications ripple through Mexico's sports landscape. The national team's friendly against Iceland was intended as a tune-up for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, and any last-minute cancellation could disrupt preparations. Meanwhile, in Guadalajara, business owners near the stadiums reported a dip in reservations, fearing prolonged instability. Local governor Pablo Lemus, of Jalisco, convened an emergency security meeting Sunday night, vowing to restore order and protect the state's reputation as a tourism and sports hub.
Experts on organized crime offered varied perspectives on what El Mencho's death might mean. Dr. Isabel Miranda de Wallace, president of the Stop Kidnapping in Mexico advocacy group, described the killing as a "turning point" but cautioned that power vacuums often lead to increased violence. "The CJNG won't disappear overnight; rival factions will vie for control, and that could mean more disruptions," she said in an interview with local television. Conversely, security analyst Alejandro Hope argued that the operation demonstrates the effectiveness of joint U.S.-Mexico intelligence efforts, potentially weakening the cartel's command structure.
As the sun set on Sunday, the smoke from burning vehicles still lingered over Jalisco's highways, a visual testament to the cartel's reach. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador addressed the nation in his morning press conference, confirming El Mencho's death without providing operational details. "We are committed to peace and justice," he said, urging citizens to remain calm. Yet, with the World Cup less than two years away, questions persist about whether this victory will translate into lasting security for the events that promise to draw millions.
Looking ahead, the Mexican Football Federation faces tough decisions. Rescheduling the postponed league games could take weeks, depending on the cartel's response. International observers, including FIFA representatives, have been in contact with league officials, emphasizing the need for robust contingency plans. In Acapulco, meanwhile, the tennis tournament's green light offers a sliver of normalcy, but players like Ruud admitted to keeping a wary eye on news from Jalisco.
For now, Mexico's sports world holds its breath, caught between the thrill of competition and the shadow of unrelenting violence. The death of El Mencho may signal the end of one era, but as history has shown, the battle against cartels is far from over, and its echoes will undoubtedly reverberate through stadiums across the country.