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)
TT

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.



Rogers Says ‘It’s a Lie’ That Palmer Does Not Want to Play for England

Premier League - Sunderland v Chelsea - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - November 8, 2026 Chelsea's Cole Palmer looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Premier League - Sunderland v Chelsea - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - November 8, 2026 Chelsea's Cole Palmer looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
TT

Rogers Says ‘It’s a Lie’ That Palmer Does Not Want to Play for England

Premier League - Sunderland v Chelsea - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - November 8, 2026 Chelsea's Cole Palmer looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Premier League - Sunderland v Chelsea - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - November 8, 2026 Chelsea's Cole Palmer looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Morgan Rogers defended Cole Palmer's ‌commitment to England on Thursday, saying any suggestion that his Chelsea teammate does not want to play for the national team "is a lie" and "nonsense".

Palmer, left out of England's World Cup squad this year after a persistent groin injury affected his form, was called up by coach Thomas Tuchel for Nations League fixtures against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia in September and October.

However, he was forced to pull out due to a recurrence of the issue, with ‌Tuchel saying the ‌24-year-old "misses too many opportunities" and then leaving ‌him ⁠out of the ⁠squad for this month's games.

Asked about Palmer's exclusion after England's 2-1 win over Croatia at Wembley, goalscorer Rogers told the BBC: "He wants to be here. He wanted to get called up and he wanted to come and represent his country as he always has done.

"He was in quite ⁠a low place with his injuries last ‌year and didn't feel 100% ‌himself on the pitch, so he wants to be here and ‌he wants to be the best version of himself.

"But ‌he also has to look at his body. He wants to play for 10 or 15 years, he also has to manage himself. If he has to manage himself in the short ‌term for the greater good then he has to do that and you have ⁠to fully ⁠support it.

"It has nothing to do with England or not wanting to play with England. It's a nonsense really that people are questioning someone that wants to play for England. It's a lie."

In his post-match press conference, Tuchel told reporters it was "totally fine" for Rogers to defend Palmer.

"It's his teammate and friend," the German manager added.

"I was very happy with the emotional commitment and physical commitment of Morgan. He was our standout player today."

England next travel to Madrid to face world champions Spain on Sunday in their final Nations League group stage game.


Spain’s Yamal and Oyarzabal to Return for England Showdown, Says Manager

Real Sociedad's Spanish forward #10 Mikel Oyarzabal warms up prior the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 4 football match between Real Sociedad and Olympique Lyonnais at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
Real Sociedad's Spanish forward #10 Mikel Oyarzabal warms up prior the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 4 football match between Real Sociedad and Olympique Lyonnais at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
TT

Spain’s Yamal and Oyarzabal to Return for England Showdown, Says Manager

Real Sociedad's Spanish forward #10 Mikel Oyarzabal warms up prior the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 4 football match between Real Sociedad and Olympique Lyonnais at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
Real Sociedad's Spanish forward #10 Mikel Oyarzabal warms up prior the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 4 football match between Real Sociedad and Olympique Lyonnais at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on November 5, 2026. (AFP)

Spain are set to welcome back forwards Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal for Sunday's Nations League match against England after the duo missed Thursday's 2-0 win over the Czech Republic, manager Luis de la Fuente ‌said.

Lamine had ‌stayed back in ‌Barcelona to ⁠nurse a knee ⁠injury.

"Lamine feels very good now and is really looking forward to joining the squad tomorrow," de la Fuente told Spanish ⁠television channel La 1.

Oyarzabal ‌stayed in ‌San Sebastian to be present ‌at the birth of his ‌second child. De la Fuente confirmed that he would also be part of Spain's Friday ‌evening training session.

"Mikel too. One will arrive at ⁠midday ⁠and the other a little later, but both will be with us tomorrow."

Spain have a three-point advantage over England in League A Group 3 and they will top the standings with a draw or a win.

Both sides have already qualified for the quarter-finals.


Grealish Issues Apology for Recent Absence at Everton for Disciplinary Reasons

21 November 2022, Qatar, Ar-Rayyan: England's Jack Grealish in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B soccer match between England and Iran at Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)
21 November 2022, Qatar, Ar-Rayyan: England's Jack Grealish in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B soccer match between England and Iran at Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)
TT

Grealish Issues Apology for Recent Absence at Everton for Disciplinary Reasons

21 November 2022, Qatar, Ar-Rayyan: England's Jack Grealish in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B soccer match between England and Iran at Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)
21 November 2022, Qatar, Ar-Rayyan: England's Jack Grealish in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B soccer match between England and Iran at Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)

On-loan Everton winger Jack Grealish has apologized for being unavailable to play for the team because he breached the club's disciplinary rules.

Grealish, who is on a second loan spell from Manchester City, has missed the last four matches for Everton's senior team, with his most recent appearance coming on Oct. 17.

He made his comeback in a behind-closed-doors match with Derby on Thursday, after which he sent a post on Instagram addressing his recent absence.

“Nice to be back out there with the boys today after a few good days training,” Grealish wrote. “I want to apologize to the fans and everyone at the club for not being able to help the team the last few weeks.

“I love playing for this club and can’t wait to be back playing in front of you guys in an Everton shirt. See you all soon.”

Everton manager David Moyes has been reluctant to discuss any finer details about Grealish's conduct, with the club only saying the 31-year-old winger was “not match-fit” ahead of a trip to Newcastle on Nov. 2.

Grealish, one of the most talked-about players in English football, was once the most expensive player in the British game after joining City from Aston Villa for 100 million pounds ($139 million) in 2021.

He helped City win the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble in 2023, but has been out of favor over the last two years.