The Spanish Football Federation is set to move or suspend the Spain under-20 team’s match against Mexico, which was scheduled to take place in the city of Ceuta on 30 September, after a government request to change the venue amid security concerns linked to political tensions in the city.
Interior Ministry asks for Spain-Mexico match to be moved
According to informed sources who spoke to The Athletic, Spain’s Interior Ministry contacted the football federation and asked it to move the match to another location. Officials are currently looking for alternative stadiums to host youth internationals, while Ceuta have played their Segunda División matches at the Alfonso Murube Stadium in recent weeks.
Ceuta has become the subject of widespread political debate in Spain because of the migration crisis, after around 70,000 people from neighbouring Morocco entered the city by land and sea over two days in late July. These developments formed the backdrop to the concerns that prompted the authorities to request a change of venue for the Spain youth international. The issue of Ceuta has also extended to football clubs and the senior national team.
Real Madrid players wore shirts in solidarity with the city before last week’s match against Elche, although Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté did not fully take part in the initiative. The city also featured in a video announcing the Spain senior squad, through footage of head coach Luis de la Fuente’s recent visit there.
De la Fuente said: “This trophy tells the story of where we came from, and these players will determine where we are going, while the journey continues from here... This is Ceuta, this is Spain.”
Sumar opposes hosting the 2030 World Cup
The possibility of moving the Spain-Mexico match comes as political tensions overlap with other football issues, with the left-wing Sumar party, the junior partner in Spain’s governing coalition, calling on the national federation to reject the country’s participation in hosting the 2030 World Cup with Morocco. Portugal is due to be the third partner in organising the tournament.
