Sheinbaum assures that AICM taxi drivers will not be affected during the 2026 Copa del Rey.

▲ FIFA has requested that the only taxi service offered at the capital's airport during the tournament be the app. Photo: Alfredo Domínguez

Emir Olivares and Alonso Urrutia

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, p. a10

With just over a year to go until the 2026 World Cup in North America, where Mexico City will be one of the venues—and which will attract thousands of visitors—the federal government has guaranteed that licensed taxis at the capital's airport will be allowed to operate during the sporting event.

Taxi drivers will not be affected; we are looking for the best way to operate during the World Cup, because many visitors will be coming , assured President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

During her morning press conference yesterday, the president was asked about the complaints raised by licensed taxi drivers at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) regarding the fact that soccer tournament organizers—such as FIFA—have required that the only taxi service provided at the airport be the one provided by the app, which would affect the rights and economic profits of those who have a license to operate there.

In this regard, the head of the federal executive branch stated that they are looking for the best way to provide this service at the capital's airport, but guaranteed that taxi drivers from concessionary companies will not be affected.

Previously, he asked Admiral Raymundo Morales Ángeles, head of the Navy—the agency in charge of the AICM—to elaborate on the issue. The official reported that efforts are being made to reach an appropriate coexistence that will ensure safe transportation for fans attending the World Cup.

He indicated that the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) will decide whether to authorize taxis to enter the capital's airport terminal and provide service during the championship.

The best way to provide service during the World Cup is being reviewed with the SICT. For now, the rights of the concessionaires are not being violated in any way; discussions are ongoing with them. Some have debts and expired permits, but discussions are underway to reach an appropriate agreement that will ensure safe transportation for those coming to the World Cup.

"Would it be possible for taxi drivers to use the app during the World Cup?" the President was asked.

–It hasn't been decided yet; it has to be decided by the Ministry of Communications and Transportation.

–Should there be any modification to the law, or would it simply be authorized? he was asked.

–It's still being analyzed. We don't have a final decision on this, but we were evaluating whether licensed taxi drivers would provide adequate service to those coming to the World Cup and, if necessary, provide other alternatives.

▲ Ignacio Rodríguez also defended the jerseys of Atlético Morelia, Atlante, and Tigres. Photo taken from social media.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, p. a10

Ignacio Rodríguez Bahena, a goalkeeper who played for the Mexican national team at the 1986 World Cup, died on Monday at the age of 68 due to cancer, a disease that his former teammate and friend Félix Fernández made public on social media a few days ago. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and various Liga MX clubs expressed their condolences for the passing of the Zacatepec, Morelos native.

"Nacho is currently facing a serious cancer problem, and, as usual, financial resources are scarce in this harsh reality faced by former soccer players, who are now without protection and often in serious condition ," Fernández wrote in early May about Rodríguez's health. The illness wreaked havoc in a very short time. "He passed away peacefully, accompanied by Paty, his wife, a great friend and mentor ," he stated when confirming the news.

Born on July 12, 1956, the man with the distinctive mustache and long goalkeeper sweaters made his professional debut in 1977 with Zacatepec, where hundreds of fans consider him a legend. He also played for other Mexican soccer clubs, including Atlético Morelia (1981-1982), Atlante (1982-1989), and Tigres de la UANL (1989-1994), almost always performing acrobatic moves under the goalposts.

Throughout his career, his teammates and coaches praised his consistency and professionalism, qualities that led him to be considered the Tricolor's third-choice goalkeeper in the 1986 World Cup, won by Diego Maradona's Argentina. "Nacho has passed away, but I hope he's remembered fondly for his career and the quality of his humanity ," said Saúl Rodríguez, the legendary goalkeeper's brother.

After his retirement, Rodríguez ventured into coaching. In 2011, he led Club Deportivo Irapuato and won the Clausura tournament title in the former Liga de Ascenso. Shortly after, he managed Correcaminos of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, with whom he also won the Apertura championship that same year.

▲ Executives of teams like the Leones Negros de la UdeG (in black and yellow) complain about the uncertainty surrounding the issue, which prevents them from putting together a project with the goal of reaching the First Division. Photo @ligamxexpansion

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, p. a11

Among the Expansion League clubs, the discussion over the promotion and relegation that authorities from the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and Liga MX pledged to reinstate within six years as part of an economic stabilization plan has led to a complaint before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) demanding the return of the old competition system for the 2025-2026 season, Mineros de Zacatecas technical director Mario García told La Jornada . There is unity and consensus to pursue a sporting path. The deadline they gave has been met. Now we hope they give us the freedom to compete to reach the First Division; that's where the funnel we need to open lies .

According to the American newspaper The New York Times , the judicial file presented on Monday before the CAS by legal representatives of institutions such as Atlante, Atlético La Paz, Cancún FC, Club Atlético Morelia, Cimarrones de Sonora, Oaxaca, Mineros de Zacatecas, Venados, Leones Negros and Jaiba Brava highlights the urgency of businessmen and directors to obtain a response to plan investments, infrastructure, acquisition of players and negotiate the broadcast rights of the matches. The FMF considers that the six-year hiatus began in the 2020-21 season and not the previous year, as had been approved by the general assembly of the organization , the publication says.

As part of its 2023 reforms, the federation intended to integrate the U-20 category into the Second Division rosters, thus paving the way for an U-23 competition that would begin in December of that year. By not establishing the foundations for a competition system, the plan was scrapped by team owners. This year, the situation is no different. Neither players nor directors have heard of a possible opening to the Liga MX. "The same topic was brought up again at the last meeting we attended ," says Correcaminos president Javier Garibaldi. " But there is no sign of a possibility of promotion to the First Division anytime soon. They are considering it for after the 2026 World Cup .

Stabilization plan

The economic stabilization plan, presented by the League in 2020, not only established the rescue of clubs in financial trouble, such as Veracruz, which defaulted on its players' salaries and was disaffiliated earlier that year; it also eliminated promotion and relegation and the youth system in favor of a development tournament. Not all owners were in favor. The most experienced players agreed that the measure would deprive them of jobs and restrict the principle of competitiveness for the agreed six seasons. Since then, the FMF has set a series of requirements for the Expansion franchises for a future return to the first division.

Atlante and Leones Negros began the certification process from scratch and accredited their documents last year. According to the criteria agreed upon at the owners' meeting, if there are four certified teams and one of them wins the Campeón de Campeones, they can advance to the top league. Owners must complete affiliation procedures, financial control, infrastructure, a business plan report from an external consultant, use of resources from the Improvement Fund, and institutional structure. "This league is worth it, even if it's punished and minimized ," responds García, a multi-champion with Atlante in this category.

There are dreams that soccer can fulfill, and today we've taken them away from children and young people in different parts of the country. It's becoming difficult for everyone because it's frustrating to work on projects and not even have the recognition or the opportunity to compete at the top level. Many talk about a possible four-time championship for América, but half the clubs in the league aren't competing; it's the three-time champion of a mediocre league. Why not see those great teams play at the UdeG stadium, in the highlands of Zacatecas, or in a place as hot as Jaiba Brava? Why play first- and second-class soccer?

Regarding the sporting implications that the Expansion clubs are claiming before the CAS, the federation clarifies that it has not been notified of any proceedings against it by the Court , but, should that occur, we will present our position to the appropriate authorities . Unlike what happens in the First Division, players who play in the Second Division or the Premier League—the third professional tier—are not attractive to major investors. The franchises do not sign lucrative broadcast rights contracts, nor do they accrue profits from sponsorships.

▲ The Mexican said that due to the conditions, he decided to be cautious and avoid any falls. Photo AFP

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, p. a12

Pisa. Under heavy rain that complicated his race, Mexican Isaac del Toro retained the Giro d'Italia leader's pink jersey at the end of the tenth stage, an individual time trial won by Daan Hoole, who was fortunate enough to compete on a dry road before the clouds cleared.

Del Toro managed to stay in pink, but saw his lead reduced by Spaniard Juan Ayuso, his UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate, who appeared unaffected by the increasingly wet roads.

Ayuso reduced the gap by almost a minute, closing to within 25 seconds of Del Toro, the first Mexican rider to lead the Giro . Italian Antonio Tiberi remained third, cutting the gap to 61 seconds.

I knew it would be super tough, but I tried to finish another day in pink, and it was good. With the wet road, it was a bit scary in the corners , said the 21-year-old del Toro, whose strategy was to maintain the lead without endangering himself in the difficult conditions of the wet road caused by the deluge.

"I knew I had a lot of time on my side and didn't want to take any risks. Afterwards, I was struggling to stay straight on the bike, but it was fun and I'm super happy. Ayuso (his teammate) being second overall is very good for the team; we'll see what happens in the coming days ," he added.

Hoole took full advantage of an early start on dry roads to complete the 28.6-kilometer course from Lucca to Pisa in 32 minutes and 30 seconds. It was the Dutchman's first Grand Tour victory.

Hoole, 26, was seven seconds faster than Joshua Tarling, who won the opening individual time trial on the second stage of the Giro . His group all rode in dry conditions, but rain began to fall as the general classification favorites started to leave.

I felt good all week and was aiming for this day, but I never thought I'd make it. The general classification had rain, and that changed the race a lot , Hoole said.

Favorite Primoz Roglic recovered from another crash during his morning reconnaissance run to overtake several of his rivals and move into fifth place in the overall standings, 1:18 behind Del Toro. Simon Yates also made up ground to move into fourth place.

Roglic lost significant time after a crash in the gravel on Sunday's stage before Monday's rest day, and started the time trial in 10th place overall, 2:25 behind Del Toro.

Wednesday's eleventh stage will cover 186 kilometers of mid-mountain terrain, starting at the coast in Viareggio before heading inland and traversing three high-category climbs to Castelnovo ne' Monti. Del Toro has the strength and is considered an all-rounder who can challenge in Wednesday's race.

▲ Mario Mitrani, general director of the tour in Mexico; Mireya Sosa, the state's Secretary of Tourism; and Julian Levin, from the sponsoring brand, yesterday during the tour's presentation. Photo: Sectur Sinaloa

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, p. a12

Mexican cyclist Isaac del Toro's success in the Giro d'Italia should be used to promote cycling throughout the country and demonstrate that there is no shortage of talent.

We're all proud to have such a brilliant athlete as Isaac. His historic achievements are a great inspiration for new generations to realize that we can become the best in the world , shared Mario Mitrani, general director of the Mexico by Tour de France stage in Sinaloa.

During the presentation of the cycling race, which will take place on November 9th of this year, Mitrani commented that those who register for the competition will be able to experience a taste of the demands Del Toro faces as a professional. There will be three distances: 40, 70, and 120 kilometers; in the latter, the competitive level will be very high and inspiring for all those who dream of becoming professionals like Del Toro.

Obtaining Tour de France approval for the route took months. State, tourism, and sports authorities worked to meet the requirements for acceptance.

The Mexico by Tour de France Sinaloa stage will be held in Mazatlán, and more than 1,200 cyclists and their companions are expected to participate. The route will be announced in the coming days, and registration will open on Friday.

In total, we expect more than 4,000 attendees. We've been organizing the logistics for over four months to make the tour a success. In the coming months, people from France will be coming to endorse the route and make everything official.

Mitrani invited other states to promote sports by organizing national or international competitions. It would be great if more competitions like this were held in Mexico. We seek to build a healthier society, promoting sports, healthy eating, and physical activity .

Mireya Sosa Osuna, the state's Secretary of Tourism, highlighted the importance of having the French tour's endorsement.

This isn't just another race; it's a brand with more than 100 years of history that represents excellence, discipline, and passion for sports. This year, it will come to Mazatlán to tour our streets, show off our sights, and showcase everything Sinaloa has to offer to the world , he emphasized.

▲ 26-year-old Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points for the Thunder. Game 2 of this round will be played tomorrow at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. AP Photo

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, p. a34

New York. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 yesterday in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals, led by star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 31 points.

The 26-year-old Canadian added his fifth postseason game with at least 30 points – he finished with 31 – along with nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

The Timberwolves got off to an encouraging start thanks to a first half in which forward Julius Randle scored 20 of his 28 points. However, the Minnesota team was unable to maintain their pace, and in the third quarter, the Thunder responded with their best version, winning 32-18 and taking a lead that would reach 26 points.

Anthony Edwards, who got into a personal fight with Gilgeous-Alexander, received a technical foul in the first half for throwing the ball at the Thunder player while he was on the ground.

Edwards' 18 points were far below expectations for the Wolves' star player. He shot 39 percent and connected on just 5 of his 13 attempts.

Outside of Randle and Edwards, no other Minnesota player scored more than 10 points individually.

The Timberwolves turned to three-pointers to make the difference and failed, making just 15 of their 50 attempts.

Game 2 will be played tomorrow at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder averaged 125.7 points per game during the regular season.