Football matches postponed in Mexico after drug kingpin El Mencho killed
Al Jazeera
February 23, 2026
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Football matches in Mexico were postponed after the death of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The cancellations affected four high-level games, including fixtures in both the men's and women's tournaments, as well as second-division matches. The violence triggered by El Mencho's killing also led to roadblocks and car burnings across nearly a dozen Mexican states.
El Mencho was fatally wounded during a clash with the Mexican army in Tapalpa, Jalisco, near Guadalajara, which is set to host four World Cup games in June 2026. His death sparked widespread unrest, with cartel members responding by blocking roads and burning vehicles in multiple regions. This chaos forced the cancellation of an international friendly match between Mexico and Iceland, scheduled for Queretaro's Corregidora Stadium.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is considered one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, with an estimated 19,000 members operating across 21 states. Designated as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" by the
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/23/2026