In shocking news coming out of Mexico, it’s been reported that at least 11 people have been killed during a football match. The incident took place on 25 January in the city of Salamanca, Guanajuato state, western Mexico, and a further 12 people have been injured.
As per BBC News, many families had stayed behind to socialise after a match between local clubs. At least one woman and one child were among those killed. It’s understood that the attack was part of recent gangland troubles.
Speaking to the press, Mayor Prieto noted that the attack was part of a ‘crime wave’ in the city. He also appealed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for help to control the growing violence.
Shocking statements from witnesses revealed that several armed men arrived in two pickup trucks, got out, and fired ‘indiscriminately’ at players and spectators. Ten people died at the scene, and one died later at a hospital. The Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office said that it was investigating and coordinating with federal authorities to reinforce security in the area.
Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup, with games held in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Fans who might be travelling to the tournament will be glad to hear that the city of Salamanca is hours away from any of those cities. However, the state of Guanajuato is a neighbour to Jalisco (where Guadalajara is located).
Guanajuato had Mexico’s highest homicide total last year. A local gang, Santa Rosa de Lima, has been battling the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Mexico’s government said the country’s 2025 murder rate was the lowest since 2016 at 17.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, although analysts cautioned that the numbers may not fully reflect the country’s violence.
This most recent killing came just a day after several violent incidents in the city, in which a total of five men were killed and another was abducted. On the recent gang troubles, the Salamanca mayor said:
‘Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to subjugate authorities, something they are not going to achieve.”
A motion has been signed calling for FIFA to ban the United States.
Ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter Warns Fans Against Travelling For World Cup
While so much attention has been on the US ahead of the 2026 World Cup, this violence in one of the other co-hosting cities may spark concern among those who were intending to travel to the tournament this summer. Just this week, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested that fans should boycott the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking on social media, he agreed with the idea that fans should be wary of travelling to the United States. He wrote:
“‘For the fans, there’s only one piece of advice: stay away from the USA!’ I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
United States President Donald Trump has made the fight against criminal gangs sending illicit drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamines and cocaine one of his priorities. In the past, he has alleged that “cartels are running Mexico” and has threatened to hit “narco-terrorists” with land strikes.
The 2026 World Cup begins on 11 June when Mexico host South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a good four-hour drive from Salamanca.
Juventus have made contact with Crystal Palace over a deal to sign striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer in recent hours, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport.
The Serie A giants are looking to bolster their squad this summer after missing out on Champions League football, while the Eagles are set to enter a new era at Selhurst Park after winning the Conference League, with manager Oliver Glasner departing after his contract expired.
Palace are expecting big interest in several of their top stars as a result, despite qualifying for the Europa League as a result of their third trophy in 12 months, and now Juventus have made their first move for one of the key players responsible for their recent success.
Juventus Make Move to Sign Mateta
According to a report, Juventus are stepping up their interest in signing a new striker after it was confirmed that Dusan Vlahovic will depart when his contract expires at the end of the month.
But the 28-year-old battled back to fitness and enjoyed a fine end of the season with Palace, scoring the winning goal in the Conference League final and earning a place in France’s World Cup squad under Didier Deschamps.
Palace are now set to hire Pierre Sage as Glasner’s replacement, but he may be forced to plan for his new season without their top forward, as Juventus make their move to sign Mateta this summer.
It’s expected that Mateta will be sold, as he enters the final 12 months of his contract at Selhurst Park, with GIVEMESPORT sources previously revealing that he would be very open to a move to Serie A.
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Crystal Palace Already Planning for Life After Mateta
Mateta has been a revelation at Palace in recent seasons, and replacing him will be unbelievably difficult for the club because he has been such a reliable source of goals.
The club looked to solve the issue in January by bringing in all of Jorgen Strand Larsen, Evann Guessand, and Brennan Johnson to strengthen the attack, and it may mean that Sage has plenty of options already.
But Guessand’s move wasn’t made permanent, Johnson scored just once since his arrival, and Larsen didn’t have a great season either. With Mateta on the move, Sage has the chance to make an impact by bringing in a top number nine that he trusts to fill the void, and that would immediately get fans on side going forward.
Bayern Munich are exploring a shock summer move to sign Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, according to a breaking update from Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
Liverpool have only just appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager, and they are working on incoming signings following summer exits for three of their key players in Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate.
The Reds are already working hard on a deal to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as Salah’s successor at Anfield, and they lead the race for his signature after the positive steps that have been taken on player side, according to Ornstein.
The Merseyside outfit want to add to their attack rather than lose players from it, but Bayern clearly have different ideas as they look to bolster their frontline ahead of next season.
Ornstein: Bayern Munich Exploring Rio Ngumoha Move
In a surprise update on Friday evening, Ornstein claims that Bayern are exploring a move for Ngumoha, with the Liverpool winger their primary target as they look to bring in a left-sided forward during the summer.
The 17-year-old is aware of the Bundesliga giants’ pursuit even though there has been no contact between the clubs yet, although Liverpool insist their teenage sensation is not for sale and they want to add to the squad rather than weakening it in the coming months.
Andoni Iraola’s appointment at Liverpool has many fans hoping to see a return to the type of football Jurgen Klopp embedded at Anfield during his nine-year reign.
Arne Slot’s more controlled style of play ended up being unsuccessful in his second campaign at the club, and ultimately led to his sacking. Iraola has impressed at Bournemouth, taking them from relegation favourites to European football in just three years.
While he has an incredibly difficult task getting anywhere near Klopp’s legacy on Merseyside, he may even excel more than the popular German in some areas. According to one man who has played under both managers, at least.
Andoni Iraola Elevated Former Liverpool Star
England international Dominic Solanke spent two years under Klopp at Liverpool after joining from Chelsea in 2017. The striker was expected to go on to big things, but only managed 27 appearances for the Reds, playing second fiddle to Roberto Firmino.
He was still young when Bournemouth came knocking in 2019, signing him for £19 million. While that was still four years before Iraola would even appear at the Vitality Stadium, the Spanish coach took him to a new level.
Doubts have emerged once again over Arne Slot’s position at Liverpool manager heading into the summer.
Solanke had two very good goalscoring seasons in the Championship following the Cherries’ relegation. However, there was still a question mark over whether he could translate that to the top-flight. His first season back in the Premier League saw the Englishman only net six times.
Iraola then joined the next summer (2023) and immediately turned Solanke into a prolific goalscorer. He found the net 19 times in the league in the Spaniard’s first term and earned a £65 million move to Tottenham.
Dominic Solanke Raved About Iraola at Bournemouth
In a December 2023 interview with The Times, Solanke credited Iraola’s style of play for his upturn in form. He did admit the players struggled to take his approach on board at first, saying: “We couldn’t take in all the information at first.”
He explained how it took time to adjust, before everything became second-nature: “For me, I’m pressing with a No.10 behind me and, at first, our timing was off. We didn’t know when to press or to drop, but now it’s second nature as the manager has gone through it many times and it’s embedded in our heads and we are all on the same wavelength. It’s natural now.”
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The five-cap England international spoke glowingly about his old boss’ man-management: “Iraola’s really good with the players. We all get on really well with him. He’s easy to talk to. He’s very detailed in his tactics so we have a lot of meetings. He’s always willing to speak separately to make sure everyone’s on board.”
The part that will now excite Liverpool fans the most is how Solanke credited Iraola’s high-pressing tactics as a big factor in his success at Bournemouth. The forward explained:
“Part of my success is because the manager loves pressing high. I’m high up the pitch, in the centre of the goal much of the time, and not having to drop back too much and am finding myself in good positions, more than last season probably.
“The manager’s style definitely suits me.”
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 05-06-26.
