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FIFA monitors World Cup host city Guadalajara, and postpones soccer matches amid violence in the city.

After violence erupted near Guadalajara following a military operation in which cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera was killed, FIFA monitored the situation in the city that will host the World Cup in 2026.

According to the Defense Ministry, Oseguera was injured during a special force operation in Jalisco, Mexico, on the Pacific coast. He died in custody.

A FIFA Mexico spokesperson said: "We are constantly in communication with the authorities and closely monitor the situation in Jalisco."

We will continue to follow actions and directions of the various government agencies aimed at maintaining the public safety and restoring the normalcy. And we repeat?our close cooperation with federal, State, and Local authorities."

Mexico President

Claudia Sheinbaum

On Tuesday, the Minister of Tourism said that the World Cup was in full swing and "no risks" were posed to visitors.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA's President, echoed this sentiment when he told reporters at an event in Colombia that "Everything is fine." It's going be spectacular."

From March 26 to 31, the World Cup will be played at the Estadio Akron, a venue in Zapopan (Guadalajara), which is one of its venues.

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus confirmed that FIFA has not intended to remove any of the host cities.

Azteca stadium in Mexico City, another World Cup venue is scheduled to host an international friendly between Mexico vs Portugal on the 28th of March to celebrate its reopening following?renovations.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), said that it would be closely monitoring the developments and will make decisions about travel arrangements based on safety.

Surinamese football federation is also evaluating its situation in advance of the World Cup Playoff in Monterrey. "We're scheduled to arrive between March 22 and 23 but we're monitoring the situation very closely," Secretary-General Mitchell Kisoor said.

MATCHES WILL BE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY

Mexican league announced on social media that two games, Queretaro against FC Juarez and Chivas against America in the women’s league, scheduled for Sunday have been postponed.

Local media also reported that two second division matches scheduled to be played on Sunday were cancelled.

The match between Necaxa vs Queretaro, played in Aguascalientes on Sunday was stopped when the players left after hearing loud noises coming from outside Estadio Victoria. Media reports described these sounds as gunshots.

The match was resumed later, and Necaxa won 2-1.

Mexico's national team will face Iceland in an amiable match on Wednesday at the Corregidora Stadium, in Queretaro.

The Mexican Open men's tennis event in Acapulco will begin as scheduled on Monday, according to established security protocols.

The Tennis Tournament went as planned

The Merida Women's Open tournament, which was held in the east of the country, also went according to plan.

The WTA has been made aware of reports of security incidents in western Mexico, the WTA stated?in a press release. It added that the authorities have increased the police presence at the tournament site.

The safety of the players, staff and spectators is our number one priority.

Following reports of El Mencho’s death, suspected members of the cartel blocked?highways and set businesses ablaze in more than a half dozen states. No civilian deaths were reported.

Social media users in Jalisco’s popular beach resort Puerto Vallarta described dark plumes of smoke rising from the bay.

Air Canada, United Airlines and Aeromexico suspended flights. Reporting by Karan Saxena and Angelica Medina from Mexico City, Julia Symmes Cobb and Chiranjit Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Kevin Liffey, Toby Davis and Toby Davis.

(source: Reuters)