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Death of Cartel Leader in Mexico Sparks Wave of Violence and Postpones Football Matches!

Published February 23, 2026, 12:11
Death of Cartel Leader in Mexico Sparks Wave of Violence and Postpones Football Matches!

The death of the leader of the drug cartel in Mexico, 'El Mencho', has caused turmoil throughout the country and led to the cancellation of football matches. Four football matches were postponed in Mexico on Sunday (02/22) following the assassination of the leader of one of the most powerful drug cartels by the Mexican army, which sparked a huge wave of violence in the area near the city of Guadalajara, which is set to host matches for the 2026 World Cup. Specifically, this death affected two first division matches, Querétaro - Juárez for the men's championship and Chivas - América for the women's, as well as two more second division men's matches. According to the press, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as 'El Mencho', leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) cartel, was fatally wounded in the town of Tapalpa in the state of Jalisco, about 250 kilometers outside Guadalajara, and died during his air transport to Mexico City. The murder of the drug trafficker immediately provoked reactions, as, as a form of retaliation, some members of the cartel (considered the most powerful in Mexico with approximately 19,000 members operating in 21 of the country's 32 states) set fire to vehicles and blocked roads in almost twelve Mexican states. Recall that Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, will host four group stage matches of the World Cup next June, including two for South Korea, while Mexico, which is the co-host, Spain, Uruguay and Colombia will also compete there. Despite the chaos caused by the death of 'El Mencho', the Mexican Football Federation has not yet announced any changes regarding the friendly match to be held on Wednesday (02/26) against Iceland in Querétaro.

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