FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has stated that he is “very reassured” about Mexico’s hosting of games in the football World Cup, in his first comments on the violence triggered by the killing of a drug cartel leader.

“Very reassured, everything’s good. It’s going to be spectacular,” Infantino told AFP in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, two days after cartel members went on a rampage — including in host city Guadalajara — over the army’s killing of their leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera.

Mexico is one of the three host countries for the June 11-July 19 World Cup, along with the United States and Canada.

The country as a whole, but particularly Guadalajara, was shaken by the violence that followed the killing of the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

At least 74 people were killed during the operation to capture him at a ranch near Guadalajara and subsequent clashes between the security forces and suspected cartel members.

Only one was a civilian, according to the government, but residents and tourists alike were left scurrying for cover as cartel gunmen blocked roads in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states and torched vehicles and businesses.

‘No risk’ to football fans

“It feels like we’re in a war zone,” Javier Perez, a 41-year-old engineer, told AFP on Tuesday in the parking lot of a grocery store replete with burnt-out cars in the Jalisco tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta.

The images of anarchy and violence were beamed around the world less than four months before the start of the World Cup, while FIFA on Monday refused to comment.

Infantino spoke to AFP at a Colombian Football Federation event.

However, Infantino’s optimism was not reflected by the Portuguese Football Federation, who cast doubt on whether their team would play a friendly on March 29 in Mexico City.

The federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico.”

It added that the safety of players, coaches and supporters was a top priority and security considerations would be the deciding factor.

Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre was more upbeat, declaring: “All is going ahead as planned.”

Earlier, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that there was “no risk” to World Cup fans and said the situation was “gradually returning to normal.”

Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, will host four group-stage matches.

Mexico City and the northeastern city of Monterrey will also host games.Both cities were spared by the recent unrest.

In addition to the four matches, including one of the most anticipated of the first round between Uruguay and Spain, Guadalajara will co-host with Monterrey the playoff tournament that will determine the last two teams to qualify for the World Cup at the end of March.

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus ruled out the prospect of Guadalajara being dropped from the tournament over security concerns, saying there was “absolutely no risk” of a change in the line-up.

All eyes will be on the central state of Queretaro on Wednesday, when Mexico meets Iceland for a friendly match.

A first-division game was suspended on Sunday in Queretaro over the violence.

Car manufacturing affected

Oseguera was one of the most-wanted men in the United States and Mexico. He had a $15 million US bounty on his head.

Oseguera was a founding member of CJNG, which was formed in 2009 and grew into one of the biggest, most violent drug cartels in Mexico, overtaking the Sinaloa cartel of jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Mexico confirmed that he was captured with the help of “complementary information” from US authorities, but insists no US forces took part in the raid.

As the fallout from the violence continued to reverberate nationwide, Japanese car manufacturer Honda announced that it had suspended activities at its assembly plant in Guadalajara.

“As a precautionary measure, our operations in our installations in Guadalajara were temporarily suspended on Monday, February 23,” Daniela Sanchez, a spokesperson for the car factory, told AFP, explaining that the automotive giant was currently “assessing the (security) situation”.

Mexico is a major automotive hub with several major manufacturers, including Ford, General Motors, BMW, and Audi, assembling vehicles in the country for the North American and European markets.

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LIVERPOOL: Manchester Uni­ted boss Michael Carrick praised the impact of super-sub Benjamin Sesko after the Slovenian’s cool finish earned a 1-0 win at Everton on Monday night.

Sesko is yet to start in Carrick’s six matches in charge but has come off the bench to net in three of his last four appearances with vital goals.

The 22-year-old also scored a late winner against Fulham and rescued a point against West Ham United deep into stoppage time in United’s previous outing.

Sesko started the move that led to the winning goal as all of United’s 200 million ($270 million) trio of attacking signings last summer combined to great effect.

Matheus Cunha picked out the run of Bryan Mbeumo, who squared for Sesko to slot home his sixth goal in seven appearances since Ruben Amorim was sacked in January.

Victory lifted United into the Premier League’s top four, three points clear of Liverpool and Chelsea in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.

“It was a ruthless finish, I like the way he put it away with real confidence,” said Carrick, who has five wins and one draw since taking charge at Old Trafford. “Great play from Matheus and Bryan to set it up. Delighted for Ben again, coming on and making the difference.”

United did not hit the height of sparkling performances to beat title challengers Arsenal and Manchester City in Carrick’s first two matches in charge during an uninspired clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

But the former Middlesbrough boss was delighted with a third clean sheet in six games.

United had held opponents goalless just twice in 29 matches this season before Carrick’s arrival.

“We had to do a lot of work. Credit to Everton they made it difficult, made us defend our box a lot. The spirit with which we defended the box was top class,” added Carrick.

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens made a couple of vital saves to continue an impressive debut season at United for the 23-year-old Belgian.

“Senne was oustanding tonight,” said Carrick. “You couldn’t hope for much more from a goalkeeper. It was an exempalary performance, so delighted for him.

“You want (a goalkeeper) to take the chaos away and Senne is that. That calmness and composure helps those in front of him.”

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2026

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ALBERTVILLE: The Olympic flag returned to French soil on Monday, less than two years after the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, as preparations began for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.

The Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region and the French National Olympic and Sports Commi­ttee (CNOSF) welcomed back their delegation and the flag. The celebration drew a raucous crowd of thousands in Albertville, where the last Winter Olympics in France were held in 1992, following Chamonix 1924 and Grenoble 1968.

“A moment full of enthusiasm, part of the momentum building up to the 2030 Games,” Fabrice Pannekoucke, the president of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes regional council, said during last week’s press conference to introduce the celebration.

“We know that the history of the Winter Games in France stopped in Albertville.”

The event followed the ceremonial handover on Sunday, when Pannekoucke and his Prov­ence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur counterpart Renaud Muselier received the Olympic flag during the 2026 Games closing ceremony in Verona.

France enjoyed their best ever Winter Games haul in Milano-Cortina. Their 23 medals included eight golds.

“Sharing this with all the French fans will be a nice little moment of happiness,” biathlon mass start Olympic champion Oceane Michelon told reporters in Albertville.

Ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry won the Olympic title less than a year after forming their partnership.

“The pleasure we shared on the ice was amazing,” Fournier Beaudry said. “We don’t know yet what the future reserves for us but we know that we will keep skating together and we will regroup at the end of the season to see what we want to do.”

Ski mountaineers Thibault Anselmet and Emily Harrop won the inaugural mixed relay title at the Milano Cortina Games but the future of their event within the Olympics remains uncertain.

“We’re not sure yet whether ski mountaineering will be included, but we’re very hopeful and, based on what we’ve experienced here, we’re confident,” Harrop told reporters.

The celebration, attended by the French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, was held amid a governance crisis in the French Alps organising committee with a wave of resignations and “irreconcilable differences” between Games chief Edgar Grospiron and CEO Cyril Linette, according to an official statement.

We’re managing, we’re keeping things going. There’s turbulence, we agree, but we’re working, Grospiron said on France TV. When you aim high, it inevitably makes the difficulties greater, but I won’t compromise on our vision.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2026

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