The match ball from Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarterfinal win over England, remembered for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal, is heading back to auction as one of soccer’s most famous collectibles returns to the market. Heritage Auctions has listed the ball with a starting bid of $2.5 million. The same ball previously sold for nearly $2.4 million in 2022, while Maradona’s shirt from the match sold that year for about $9.2 million, setting a major benchmark for soccer

High-intensity start at a charged Azteca Mexico produced a controlled and aggressive opening phase at Estadio Azteca, using high pressing and quick transitions to force Ecuador deep into their half from the first whistle. The atmosphere in Mexico City was intense, with a capacity crowd driving early momentum despite a brief weather interruption that paused rhythm and

South Africa have written a new chapter in their football history after securing a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the very first time. Bafana Bafana defeated South Korea 1-0 in their final Group A match, completing one of the tournament's most inspiring turnaround stories. The achievement is even more remarkable considering the challenges South Africa faced before the competition began. Due to administrative issues and visa

Mexico’s 1-0 victory over South Korea packed Bay Area World Cup watch parties in San Jose and San Francisco, with both public viewing areas reaching capacity as fans celebrated Mexico’s place in the Round of 32. Bay Area World Cup watch parties draw major crowds An estimated 30,000 supporters gathered at San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose, creating a crowd far larger than at the earlier watch party. Security officials restricted a

The World Cup 2026 opening ceremonies schedule begins with three separate host-nation events across North America, giving Mexico, Canada and the United States their own kickoff celebrations. The first ceremony is set for Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Mexico City Stadium, widely known as Estadio Azteca, before Mexico face South Africa in the opening match. Two more ceremonies follow on Friday, June 12, 2026, in Toronto and Los Angeles. World Cup 2026 opening ceremoni

The World Cup 2026 begins Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, putting Group A, U.S. host cities and FIFA ticket pricing under early attention. The expanded World Cup 2026 features 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 host cities across Mexico, Canada and the United States, creating the largest tournament schedule in FIFA World Cup history. World Cup 2026 Group A starts in Mexico Mexico opens the tournament against

Mexico is preparing for one of the biggest sporting moments in its history, but the excitement around the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener has been mixed with growing public unrest in Mexico City. Thousands of teachers linked to the National Coordination of Education Workers, known as CNTE, have intensified protests in the capital just days before Mexico hosts the opening match of the tournament. The FIFA World Cup 2026 opener is scheduled for June 11, 2026, with Mexico f

The World Cup 2026 opening ceremony schedule will feature three separate host-nation events in Mexico, Canada and the United States, giving each country its own launch moment before the tournament begins. FIFA’s plan marks a major change from the traditional single opening ceremony format. The shows are being produced by Italian creative director Marco Balich and Balich Wonder Studio, with each event built around soccer, national identity and the FIFA World Cup tr

US Pushes Tariffs Into Mexico Trade Talks The United States expects tariffs to be part of trade negotiations with Mexico this week as Washington prepares for talks tied to the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said President Donald Trump remains concerned about the trade deficit with Mexico and indicated that tariffs are likely to remain a tool in the administration’s broader trade strategy, even with close regional partners. Rules Of Origin Face Fresh Scrutiny Greer said officials are expected to discuss changes to USMCA rules of origin, including requirements that could increase the share of American-made content in goods produced across North America. The issue is especially important for manufacturing and supply chains, as the United States seeks to reduce dependence on Asia and bring more production closer to home. Greer said Mexico has benefited from American efforts to diversify away from China, but Washington wants a more balanced distribution of production. Mexico Talks Seen As Productive The United States views Mexico as a major part of its regional supply chain strategy because it competes with Asian economies for access to the US market. Greer said the administration wants supply chains sourced from the Western Hemisphere wherever possible, pointing to pandemic-era disruptions that limited access to goods from Asia. The goal, he said, is to strengthen North American manufacturing while reducing the deficit with Mexico. Canada Negotiations Look More Difficult Trade talks with Canada appear more complicated. Greer said the United States has significant trade challenges with Canada and noted that Ottawa’s response to tariffs has differed from that of many other partners. Canada has argued that USMCA remains a strong agreement and does not require major renegotiation. The disagreement sets up a difficult review process as Washington seeks tariff-related changes while Canada pushes to preserve the existing framework.

BTS’s long-awaited return to Mexico City for their ARIRANG World Tour has become a fan festival as nearly 40,000 people gathered outside the Estadio GNP Seguros during the second concert of their Mexico City run. The group, which performed on May 7, 9, and 10, brought a wave of excitement with their first concert in the country after almost nine years. Videos from the Day 2 concert went viral online, showcasing an unforgettable live experience for the fans. As part of their ongoing ARIRANG World Tour, BTS performed before a packed stadium, with some reports estimating attendance for the second show at over 100,000, including the fans outside the venue. The energetic crowd of more than 40,000 outside the sold-out venue created a sea of lightsticks, dancing and singing to the group’s iconic hits, further highlighting the powerful connection between BTS and their Mexican fanbase. Many fans had eagerly waited for nearly a decade for the group's return to their city. Before their performances, BTS also took time to meet with the Mexican President, Sheinbaum, at the presidential palace. During their official visit, the President praised the group for promoting values of 'peace, friendship, and hope' through their music. Following the meeting, BTS waved at their adoring fans outside, further deepening the bond between the group and their Mexican followers. The fans showed their appreciation by holding banners and waving lightsticks as the group appeared on the balcony. In addition to the fans' overwhelming enthusiasm, the ticket sales for the concerts were a massive success, with over 2.1 million fans attempting to secure tickets during the pre-sale, while only 150,000 seats were available across all three concerts. According to Ticketmaster, over 136,000 tickets were sold in under an hour, making it one of Mexico’s largest ticket sales events in recent years.

​MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s government announced on Friday, March 28, 2026, that it has identified signs of life for roughly one-third of the country’s 130,000 registered missing persons, a finding that immediately drew criticism from search groups and human rights advocates who questioned the methodology and intent behind the report. According to officials, a review of government databases—including vaccination records, civil registries, and tax filings—revealed that 40,367 individu

India has issued a fresh advisory for its citizens residing in or travelling to Mexico following reports of ongoing clashes and heightened security operations in several regions of the country. The Indian Embassy in Mexico City released the alert on Sunday, urging Indian nationals to exercise extreme caution and limit their movement until the situation stabilizes. According to the advisory shared by the embassy, individuals currently in Jalisco state, including Puerto Vallarta, Chap

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho” and long regarded by authorities as one of the world’s most dangerous drug cartel leaders, has been killed during a Mexican military operation in the western state of Jalisco, officials confirmed Sunday. According to a statement from Mexico’s Defense Ministry, the CJNG chief was shot while troops attempted to capture him and later died while being transported to Mexico City. Cervantes led the Jalisco New Generati

At least 11 people were killed and 12 others seriously injured following an armed attack at a football field in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, according to local authorities. The shooting occurred in the municipality of Salamanca, where gunmen opened fire on people gathered at the sports facility, triggering a large-scale security response. Municipal officials confirmed that 10 victims died at the scene, while another person later succumbed to injuries after being transpor

US President Donald Trump issued a series of sharp warnings directed at Mexico, Colombia and Cuba following a US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and airstrikes in the capital, Caracas. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that Washington could expand its actions in the region, using language that raised concerns about escalating tensions across Latin America. The president claimed that the operation, whi

A son of convicted Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the United States, marking another significant development in the government’s long-running effort to dismantle key factions of the Sinaloa cartel. Joaquin Guzman Lopez entered his plea in a Chicago federal courtroom, months after his brother Ovidio Guzman Lopez agreed to a separate deal with prosecutors. The two siblings, known in Mexico as the “Chapitos,”

Fatima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 after a finale filled with emotions, controversy, and global attention. Her win became one of the most talked-about moments in pageant history, especially after her unexpected walk-out from the competition earlier in the week. Bosch triumphed over Thailand’s Praveenar Singh, Venezuela’s Stephany Abasali, the Philippines’ Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, and Côte d'Ivoire’s Olivia Yace, who secured the remaining top five positions. The official

A Texas woman’s vacation turned into a nightmare after she suffered a sudden medical emergency on a cruise to Mexico, leaving her family with more than thirteen thousand dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. What was meant to be a joyful first cruise experience instead became a financial and emotional ordeal, and now her family is warning others to prepare carefully before traveling abroad. Khiali Baxter was just two days into her trip when she suddenly became ill. She recalls

Dallas is combining the celebration of International Literacy Day with the excitement of international soccer to inspire children across North Texas. The Dallas Sports Commission has partnered with the Mexican National Soccer Team to launch the Copa Kin: Read to Win Challenge, an initiative designed to promote reading among elementary school students while connecting it to one of the region’s most popular sporting events. The program officially began on September 8, aligning w

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final between the United States and Mexico delivered a night of top-tier football at Houston’s NRG Stadium. As fans packed the venue and millions tuned in worldwide, the clash of two regional giants promised excitement—and delivered in full. Mexico emerged victorious after a 2-1 win over the United States, showing resilience, experience, and precise execution in critical moments. From the first whistle, the