Portugal will play Mexico in an international friendly match on March 28.
The match is scheduled to take place at the renovated Azteca Stadium – the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa on June 11.
But the fate of the match appears uncertain after Mexico’s biggest drug lord, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’, who led the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, was captured by the Mexican army qaz2.
He later died while being taken to Mexico City, leaving a sense of unease in the tourist towns. The Pacific resort town of Puerto Vallarta was also hit hard by cartel reprisals, scaring tourists.
Cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in nearly a dozen Mexican states.
Will there be a friendly match between Portugal and Mexico?
The match between Portugal and Mexico on March 28 remains on schedule for now, but confirmation that the match will definitely take place is yet to come.
What is Portugal’s position on this?
The Portuguese Football Federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico.”
The Federation said it was honored to be invited to participate in the reopening of the renovated venue, but noted that “the recent evolution of the events requires a continuous assessment of the conditions” that the national team and its delegation will find.
“Any decision will be made as a result of continuous monitoring, in close coordination with the government and in line with the Mexican Football Federation, an entity with which the Portuguese Football Federation maintains excellent institutional relations and regular contact,” the federation said in a statement.
“The Portuguese Football Federation emphasizes that the safety of players, coaching staff and fans is an absolute priority, and this is the main criterion for all assessments and decisions regarding the conduct of the match,” the federation said.
What is Mexico’s position on this?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her daily news briefing on Tuesday that there is «no risk» to fans coming to the World Cup.
The Mexican Football Federation said in a news release late Tuesday that there is a “mutual desire” to play the match on March 28 and that “as of now, the date and location of the match remain unchanged.”
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said the Portuguese reaction was «normal». “They have the right to regularly evaluate the circumstances,” Aguirre said. “Let’s wait and see, but I think the match will go ahead without any problems.”
(With input from The Associated Press)
Published on February 25, 2026
