Four soccer matches in Mexico have been postponed following a surge in violence near Guadalajara, a host city for the 2026 World Cup. The unrest occurred after a military operation on Sunday resulted in the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho".
Oseguera, 60, was the mastermind of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). He died in custody after being injured during a special forces operation on Mexico's Pacific coast in Jalisco state, according to the defense ministry.
The Mexican league announced on social media the indefinite postponement of two top-tier men's and women's league games. Two second division matches scheduled for Sunday were also called off.
In one incident, a women's match in Aguascalientes was suspended when players fled the pitch amid reports of gunshots outside the stadium. The match later resumed.
Suspected cartel members responded to Oseguera's death by blockading highways with burning vehicles and torching businesses in several states. No civilian deaths were reported. Tourists in Puerto Vallarta described plumes of smoke, and several major airlines suspended flights to the area.