On Sunday, outbreaks of cartel-related violence were reported across more than 20 Mexican states, most notably in Jalisco, including the World Cup host city of Guadalajara and the tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta. The violence followed a Mexican government operation targeting one of the country’s most wanted cartel leaders, known as “El Mencho,” who was killed during the raid. In response, supporters of the crime boss set vehicles on fire and carried out acts of arson and random shootings, an effort to project strength and send a message after his death across the country.
The international headlines generated by the unrest have renewed concerns about Mexico’s ability to host major global sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be staged in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. On Sunday, videos came out of travelers and airport staff at Guadalajara’s international airport running in fear of an attack on the airport, though this was never verified.
Against this backdrop, Mexico is scheduled to host a non-FIFA window international friendly against UEFA side Iceland in Querétaro, a city located near Mexico City.
The metropolitan area of roughly 1.5 million people will host the match at Estadio Corregidora, a 34,130-seat stadium opened in 1985. The venue is home to Querétaro FC, the Gallos Blancos, now owned by U.S.-based Innovatio Capital, part of a broader wave of foreign investment in Liga MX. Estadio Corregidora also carries World Cup history, having hosted four matches during the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Mexico vs Iceland Set To Be Played on Wednesday
Despite the broader security concerns, international sporting events across Mexico continue to move forward. Alongside professional ATP and WTA tournaments in Acapulco and Mérida, the AP and ESPN have reported that Wednesday’s friendly between El Tri and Iceland will be played as scheduled.
While a Liga MX match (Juárez vs. Querétaro) was cancelled, along with two lower-division matches and two Liga MX Femenil fixtures, the decision to proceed with the international friendly reflects financial, logistical, and political realities. Iceland’s team has already arrived in Mexico, while El Tri is in training camp. Although many schools, businesses, and public events were temporarily suspended across Mexico, the friendly is sold out.
Security for the match will include multiple layers, involving the National Guard and military support. For both the Mexican Football Federation and the federal government, ensuring the match proceeds safely carries symbolic weight. With the World Cup approaching, Mexico is eager to demonstrate to FIFA and the global audience that it can manage risk and host large-scale events successfully. The stakes go beyond football, touching tourism, investment, and the country’s international image at a moment when headlines have once again focused on violence rather than positive image of opportunity, beauty, and magic that Mexico wants to show the world.
Mexico’s Squad For The Match
On the pitch, head coach Javier “Vasco” Aguirre has once again selected a Liga MX-based squad as he continues to evaluate options ahead of the World Cup. This version of El Tri leans heavily on players from Chivas, the current Liga MX leaders and a club defined by its policy of fielding only Mexican nationals. Seven Chivas players are included, several of whom are expected to start, including league-leading striker Hormiga González, who is rumored to be attracting interest from Europe.
Additional call-ups include Marcel Ruiz of Toluca and Charly Rodríguez of Cruz Azul, the latter coming off a weekend goal against Chivas. The selection reflects Aguirre’s emphasis on domestic form and cohesion rather than relying on foreign-based players during non-FIFA windows.
Mexico’s form has been uneven since winning the 2025 Gold Cup against the United States in Houston. Following that triumph, El Tri went six full-strength friendlies without a win as part of World Cup preparation, including losses to Colombia and Paraguay on U.S. soil. Momentum only recently returned with narrow away victories over Panama and Bolivia, both requiring second-half goals to secure results.
Can Iceland Compete?
Iceland has declined from its remarkable peak less than a decade ago, when the nation reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 UEFA European Championship and qualified for the 2018 World Cup, its lone appearance at the tournament. Since then, results have fallen off sharply. While Mexico qualifies automatically as a host nation, Iceland struggled in UEFA competition, with recent defeats to Ukraine and Kosovo, offset slightly by a 2–2 home draw with France last October.
This Iceland squad is effectively a “B” team, composed almost entirely of players from the domestic league. As with Mexico’s MLS- and Europe-based players, Iceland’s top names are absent, including Fiorentina forward Albert Guðmundsson. Under normal circumstances, Mexico would be a clear favorite, though El Tri’s ongoing difficulties converting chances mean the match may be tighter than expected.
What’s Next for El Tri
Mexico will play additional full-strength friendlies before the World Cup kicks off on home soil. On March 28, they are scheduled to face Portugal at the remodeled Estadio Azteca, followed by a March 31 match against Belgium in Chicago.
In May, El Tri will play Ghana in Puebla on the 22nd and Australia in Los Angeles on the 30th, before returning to Mexico for a June 4 friendly against Serbia.
For years, the federation has faced criticism for staging a disproportionate number of home matches in the United States, where large Mexican-American crowds reliably fill stadiums. Since the conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Mexico failed to advance from the group stage, El Tri has played far more friendlies north of the border than at home. From 2023 through 2025, the national team played a total of 18 friendly matches in the United States compared to just five in Mexico, leaving domestic fans with far fewer chances to see their national team play under the flag, esspecially when the Gold Cup and Copa America was played in the United States.
That imbalance has complicated El Tri’s identity. Is it primarily a national symbol meant to unite fans at home, or a commercial product designed to maximize revenue in the U.S. market? Against the backdrop of security concerns and a looming World Cup, Wednesday’s match against Iceland carries meaning beyond the result. For supporters in Querétaro, it is a rare opportunity to see their team on home soil — an experience that, increasingly, cannot be taken for granted.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images Copyright: xIMAGENSHOPxAGENCIAxFOTOGRAFICAx
