Ancelotti leaves Real Madrid to try to turn the Verdeamarela around.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, p. a11

A seven-time European Cup winner (five as a manager) and champion of all five major European championships, Italian Carlo Ancelotti is saying goodbye to Real Madrid and club football to face a major challenge: turning the Brazilian national team around.

The interest of the Verdeamarela has been rumbling around him for two years. Finally, the pursuit of the coveted sixth world title is a challenge worthy of the 65-year-old coach, who will continue to manage Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick, and Militão, as he did in Spain, but now on an international level.

Despite his successful record, Carletto 's final year in Europe didn't end as he would have hoped, with Real Madrid losing in the Champions League quarter-finals (to Arsenal) and then losing in the Copa del Rey and La Liga finals to their eternal rivals, Barcelona.

With one year left on his contract, this premature departure changed the plans of the Italian and the Real Madrid side, although the team's inconsistent performance and the high demands of the fans helped him get on track. This season, Real Madrid have only won the Spanish Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

The greatest national team in football history will now be led by the world's most successful coach , the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement. Ancelotti will manage his first game with the Canarinha on June 5, away to Ecuador, and will guide the team to the 2026 World Cup , the CBF added.

In the meantime , he will fulfill his commitments to Madrid until the end of the LaLiga season , said CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues. He will receive around $11.2 million for coaching the national team, according to the sports website GE.

Carletto , who has never coached a national team, will be the first foreigner to coach Brazil since Argentine Filpo Nunez officiated a friendly in 1965. Brazilians Fernando Diniz and Dorival Junior preceded him in the role during the current World Cup campaign before being sacked following defeats to Lionel Messi's arch-rivals Argentina.

The Verdeamarela occupies the fourth position in the Conmebol qualifiers with 21 points in 14 matches, 10 less than the world champion Argentina, already qualified, and behind Ecuador (23) and Uruguay (21).

With information from AFP and AP

▲ The national team did not make it onto the podium at either the 2020 Tokyo or 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Photo @femextkdoficial

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, p. a12

Following the failure of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, taekwondo has been mired in controversy. First, national coaches Alfonso Victoria, Abel Mendoza, and David Davis were dismissed, and last Friday, the World Taekwondo Federation suspended the Mexican federation for irregularities in its electoral process.

Even in the midst of the storm, Raymundo González, its president, maintains that his re-election was legal and with the majority of votes required for a new term (2024-2028).

We held an election last year, and it was legally enforced; however, the COVED (Sports Electoral Oversight Council) recommended we hold new elections, which was done to confirm our unanimous victory , González argued.

In a statement, World Taekwondo explained that the suspension of Mexico's national association was due to statutory and governance issues related to its electoral process last year .

The punishment comes at a time of crisis for the sport, which, following the retirement of María Espinoza, who has won three of the last four Olympic medals for the country, failed to reach the podium at the summer Olympics in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

The conflicts within the Mexican Taekwondo Federation (FMTCD) are added to those of other associations such as swimming and archery, which were disavowed by their international federations.

There are many rumors circulating, but nothing concrete. What I can say is that I ran two legal elections; in addition, a representative of the Mexican Olympic Committee endorsed me as president.

Taekwondo is also one of the disciplines that receives the most public funding. In the run-up to Paris, it received more than 170 million pesos, and only two of a possible four athletes qualified, as happened in Tokyo.

The federation's lawyers followed up on this, so the matter was referred to the CAAD (Sports Appeals and Arbitration Commission), which concluded that these challenges were untimely and that my election was valid. Since this is my second term, the statute requires an 80 percent majority, and that's what happened , he added.

In October 2024, the FMTKD board of directors traveled to Korea to try to convince the secretary and legal counsel of World Taekwondo of the legitimacy of the election; however, the international body decided to suspend the association.

"We've been working with the World Federation since last year, submitting all the documents they've requested. So far, not a single document has been presented stating that I'm wrong, so I'm baffled. I see that there are strange hands in this. We'll keep fighting. We're a duly constituted civil association, with all the required rules and laws in Mexico ," González concluded.

Mexico, third medal at the Cadet World Cup

The national cadet taekwondo team won its third medal at the World Championships held in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Abraham Monarrez won the bronze medal after reaching the semifinals in the over 65-kilogram category.

So far, Mexico has collected three bronze medals. Competing today are Maia Méndez (-41 kg), Leonardo Jasso (-53 kg), Valentina Barrios (+59 kg), and Héctor Carmenaty (-65 kg).

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, p. a12

The Mexican Baseball League (LMB) wants to join the 2026 World Cup celebration.

Horacio de la Vega, its president, yesterday expressed his intention to turn LMB stadiums into an alternative for fans through a fan fest .

Soccer will have a special importance next year. We want baseball to grow, but we also want to join in such an important celebration for Mexicans , he commented.

The former pentathlete highlighted the League's organizational capacity and infrastructure, and he hopes to broadcast the matches and offer a gastronomic offering in a safe environment.

We have a well-structured fan experience and a well-positioned infrastructure. We hope to host some of the Mexican National Team's games in LMB stadiums and offer an unforgettable experience to our fans , he added.

At the presentation of a new sponsor, the growth of baseball in our country was highlighted. In 2023, the year in which the National Team reached the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic, viewership in Mexico reached 54 million viewers, a figure that will increase to 60 million in 2024.

At the close of the 2024 season, stadium attendance registered an increase of between 10 and 15 percent, confirming the sport as one of the most appreciated in the country. Tricolor baseball is played in more than 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, and several Latin American nations.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, p. a12

The Mexican Grand Prix has solidified its position as one of the country's most important sporting events, having been recognized with a silver award for Best Entertainment Event at the Eventex Awards 2025.

Many attribute much of this impact to the participation of Mexican driver Sergio Checo Pérez, who competed in his final race in the capital last year with Red Bull, the team he left in December. At this time, his signing with any other team has not been confirmed, despite reports from various media outlets indicating Cadillac's interest.

“The award celebrates creativity and innovation in the international events and marketing experience sector. 1,239 applications were received from 59 countries, exceeding the previous year's total. The Mexican GP has established itself as an important catalyst for Mexico City's economy, generating a cumulative economic impact and media exposure of 137 billion pesos last year,” the organizers announced in a statement.

Capacity of 404 thousand in 3 days

In its last edition, where former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz conquered the circuit, the event drew 404,958 fans over the three days. However, with Checo 's departure announced and the uncertainty surrounding his arrival at a new team, the question remains as to what the response will be from Mexico's growing motorsports fan base.

A few days ago, authorities from the capital and the top category of motorsports confirmed the continuation of the Mexican GP until 2028.

We signed a commitment between Formula One and the local government to ensure the event continues until 2028, but that doesn't mean it'll end there. In early 2026, we'll share some good news for continued presence in Mexico City for many more years. Each edition not only attracts motorsports fans but also has a significant impact on this great city, boosting the local economy, strengthening the tourism infrastructure, and generating shared pride , commented Clara Brugada, head of the Mexico City government.

The agreement for the event over the next three years estimates an economic impact of 92 billion pesos. In 2024, it generated 19.5 billion pesos; a 13 percent increase compared to 2023.

▲ Jaylen Brown (7) contributed 20 points, but they were not enough. Photo Ap

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, p. a30

New York., The New York Knicks defeated the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics 121-113 and moved within one win of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals, in a game in which Jayson Tatum left with an injury.

In another semifinal, the Minnesota Timberwolves did the same by defeating the Golden State Warriors 117-110, also moving within one game of clinching the Western Conference tie.

With less than three minutes left in the game, Tatum went for a split ball and immediately went to the floor with pain in his right leg. After receiving assistance on the court, he left unable to put weight on his right foot. The television broadcast showed him heading to the tunnel in a wheelchair with his hands covering his face.

He's undergoing tests and is currently with doctors. We're concerned about his health, as well as what we need to do ahead of the game in Boston , said coach Joe Mazzulla.

The Celtics were unable to recover from the shock of their key player going down with an injury and ended up losing a game they had led by as many as 14 points. Tatum, 27, left the court with 42 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson was the main responsible for another comeback, leading his team with 39 points and 12 assists.

The New York team managed to combine their defensive strength with their offensive prowess in the second half, scoring 70 points to lead the way to one of the most significant victories of the season. In all three of their wins in the series, the Knicks rallied from a deficit of at least 10 points.

Game 5 of the series will be played tomorrow at TD Garden in Boston, where the Celtics must win to stay alive. A win in any of the next three games will be enough for the Knicks to advance to the Finals.

For their part, the Timberwolves defeated Golden State 120-115 with a great performance from Julius Randle, who scored 31 points and dished out three assists, followed by Anthony Edwards, who added 30 points.

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, p. a30

Atlanta. Alex Verdugo was the hero for the Braves. The Mexican hit a single in the bottom of the ninth inning off American pitcher Andrew Chafin, driving in Eli White and sealing the game, as Atlanta defeated the Washington Nationals 4-3 after recovering from blowing a two-run lead.

It's a good win for us, and we should take it as motivation to keep moving forward , Verdugo commented after the game.

White led off the ninth inning with a single off Jackson Rutledge before advancing to second on Nick Allen's sacrifice fly.

Washington pitcher Grant Holmes allowed one run on four hits, including a home run by James Wood in the fourth inning. On offense, Marcell Ozuna drove in two runs with two hits, including a 450-foot home run off Jake Irvin in the fifth.

In another duel, the New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 11-5, with Mexican Randy Arozarena scoring one run and hitting two hits.

In this game, in the ninth inning, Venezuelan Oswaldo Cabrera suffered a severe injury to his left leg and had to be taken off the field by ambulance.

In other results, the Cleveland Guardians blanked the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0, the Angels defeated the San Diego Padres 9-5, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-1.