Mexican President: FIFA Will Review Security Ahead of World Cup

Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)
Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)
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Mexican President: FIFA Will Review Security Ahead of World Cup

Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)
Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)

FIFA, soccer's global governing body, will review security and transport plans in Mexico ahead of this year's World Cup, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday.

Sheinbaum said earlier in the week there was “no risk” to fans travelling to Mexico for the tournament after violence flared following the ⁠death of the ⁠country’s most-wanted cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho."

Speaking to reporters in Mexico, Sheinbaum said she spoke on the phone with FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino, who reassured her the World Cup matches in the country would go on as scheduled.

Sheinbaum added that apart from security issues, Infantino asked to "look at the traffic issue in the three cities (Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara) to guarantee ⁠mobility" ⁠for all fans.

The Mexican president's comments came a day after World Aquatics cancelled the Diving World Cup scheduled for early March in Mexico.

Sheinbaum said the government sports authority CONADE was trying to convince World Aquatics to move the meet to another city in Mexico.

“We’re working with them to try and get this international tournament back,” the president added. “We still have faith that we can get this tournament back."

The World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States from June 11 to July 19.

FIFA representatives will visit Mexico soon to assess security and mobility issues for the World Cup, Sheinbaum said.

She did not provide dates of the visit.

“I told him (Infantino) that Sunday was a special situation and that we have returned to normal, with all the safety measures that have been in place for some time now, so they can rest assured," she said.



Report: Messi's Inter Miami to Visit White House

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
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Report: Messi's Inter Miami to Visit White House

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

Inter Miami will visit the White House in March to mark the club's 2025 MLS Cup triumph, with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi expected to attend, the Miami Herald reported Friday.

The newspaper cited an unnamed Inter Miami source saying "everyone" on the team will attend the ceremony with US President Donald Trump, two days before Inter plays DC United in the US capital on March 7.

Messi, 38, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former president Joe Biden January 2025, the highest civilian honor in the United States, but did not attend the ceremony at the White House.

Trump's affinity for soccer has grown in recent months, with multiple meetings with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and a high-profile visit by Cristiano Ronaldo to the White House.

Trump took part in the trophy presentation at the Club World Cup in the United Staes last year and was on stage at the draw for the 2026 World Cup, where Infantino took the opportunity to award the president the first FIFA peace prize.

Inter Miami wrapped up a slate of international friendlies on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico.

They fell to Los Angeles FC in their MLS season-opener last weekend and face Orlando City on Sunday.


Saudi, Egyptian Boxing Federations Sign Cooperation Protocol

The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat
The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi, Egyptian Boxing Federations Sign Cooperation Protocol

The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat
The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi and Egyptian boxing federations have signed a cooperation protocol in Cairo in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman, Turki Alalshikh.

Alalshikh is also President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, which was represented by board member Faisal bin Saeed Bafrat, while the Egyptian Boxing Federation was represented by its president Magdy El-Lozy.

The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise.

This protocol is an extension of the Saudi Boxing Federation's growing role in enhancing the sport's regional and international presence and in building strategic partnerships that contribute to the development of the sport and the creation of a new generation of champions.


Recent Wins over Chelsea Mean Nothing, Says Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026.  EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. EPA/DAVID CLIFF
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Recent Wins over Chelsea Mean Nothing, Says Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026.  EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. EPA/DAVID CLIFF

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is taking no comfort from his team's good record against Chelsea, and the Premier League leaders will be fully prepared to deal with their London rivals' adaptability when they meet on Sunday.

Arsenal beat Chelsea twice in the League Cup semi-finals recently and have not lost to them since 2021, with Arteta's side winning 10 of the last 16 matches between them.

Arsenal were held to a draw by 10-man Chelsea in November, and Liam Rosenior's Chelsea are coming into Sunday's game looking to continue a six-match unbeaten run in the league, Reuters reported.

"We know the importance of the game and the team we are going to have in front of us. We just have to prepare in the best way to earn the right to win it, as I always said," Arteta told reporters on Friday.

"What you have done two weeks or two years ago is irrelevant because every game and every context is different, the players might change, the mood of the team might be different. We are prepared."

Arteta praised Chelsea's ability to adapt to the game under Rosenior, who is yet to lose a league game as Chelsea manager.

"They can change throughout the game and they have a manager very comfortable doing that, so we are prepared for the possible scenarios we can face and then we will try to be better than them," Arteta added.

Asked if Arsenal can become the first English club to win the quadruple - including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and the Champions League - this season, Arteta shrugged off the idea.

"Has it been done? That is how difficult it is," he said.

"So let's go game by game and try to earn the right to be there in the last stage of every competition, and then we will see what happens."