Mexico’s coach Aguirre assures that all players are ‘fit’ for the match against Iceland.
Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre stated that his federation has assured that safety will be prioritized during a friendly match against Iceland in Queretaro this Wednesday, in light of recent security issues in the country following the death of a prominent cartel leader.
“We are aware of the current circumstances,” Aguirre remarked prior to the match at Estadio Corregidora. “The officials at the FMF [Mexico Football Federation] have guaranteed me that everyone will be secure.”
On Sunday, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho” and the head of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, was killed, prompting unrest in the nation that resulted in the postponement of matches involving Queretaro and Juarez FC, as well as Chivas versus America in Liga MX Femenil.
In the aftermath of the leader’s death, cartel affiliates obstructed roads and set vehicles ablaze in nearly a dozen states throughout Mexico. Despite increasing concerns regarding Wednesday’s friendly between Mexico and Iceland, sources informed ESPN on Monday that the match would proceed as scheduled.
“We’re present. We’re quite calm, relaxed, training, and focusing on sports,” Aguirre stated. “That’s the message I want to convey to the fans as a football coach.”
Tickets for Wednesday’s match are sold out, with an anticipated attendance of over 30,000 at the stadium. Aguirre also expressed a desire to compete against Portugal in a forthcoming friendly in Mexico City on March 28, although their federation announced on Tuesday that they are currently assessing the situation.
The Portuguese federation indicated that it is “closely observing the sensitive situation currently developing in Mexico.”
In preparation for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer, sources informed ESPN Mexico that FIFA has requested updates from the Latin American nation regarding their security conditions.
ESPN sources further noted that, at this time, there is no indication that Mexico will forfeit its rights to host the World Cup or the inter-confederation playoff matches set for March in Monterrey and Guadalajara.
