Sport insulates children from poverty: Saviola

▲ Saviola the Bunny , a former Barcelona player, is an ambassador for the FC Barcelona Foundation, which presented Deporte que transforma (Sport that Transforms ), a production in which former Barcelona players travel to remote areas where there are serious problems in meeting basic needs. Photo @fundaciofcb

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 7, 2025, p. 9

In the communities along the borders between Chile and Peru, children live with poverty and play soccer. Many have nowhere else to go, struggling daily against the logic of getting through their days in places with peeling walls and no bathrooms or plumbing. The FC Barcelona Foundation portrays part of this reality in the documentary "Sport that Transforms ," ​​a production in which former club players such as Juliano Belletti, José Edmilson, and Javier Saviola travel through remote areas where there are serious problems meeting basic needs such as access to drinking water, sanitation, and a balanced diet.

In Mexico, the Catalan city's social and sports institution projects images of the municipality of Calakmul, Campeche, with buildings eroded by humidity and wooden doors that reveal the high poverty rates in indigenous communities. This initiative, implemented by the community organization Fondo para la Paz, has benefited more than 660 children in low-income areas.

Sport is a magical tool that improves children's lives , said Marta Segu, the foundation's general director, during the presentation ceremony.

While football is featured in almost every part of the video, the Spaniard focuses on one of the photos of Lionel Messi circulating on social media. The Argentine, still young and long-haired, appears sitting next to a bathtub holding a six-month-old baby of African descent, in a special 2008 calendar . "At the time, we didn't know anything special about the baby ," she recalls; Messi was 19 years old, an incredible talent, but also extremely shy. At the foundation, we decided to organize the photo shoot. Over time, we realized that the little one was Lamine Yamal, the current Barça star .

The story brings a smile to Saviola's face, Messi's teammate on the national team and ambassador for the projects the Blaugrana team has established in Morelos and Guadalajara, in conjunction with the Don Bosco Foundation and the organization Futbol con Corazón. He suspects that the Spanish international, a Ballon d'Or candidate at 17, can transform the sport. "From a young age, we look up to role models. La-mine is going to become one of the greatest in football in the coming years ," he notes, not only to vindicate the media hype surrounding the player, but also to encourage deeper reflection.

The children will watch Lamine's every play, every statement. There's nothing more important in life than having role models. Sometimes they make a lot of mistakes, but we have to learn how to change that. We professionals are so used to living in a bubble of interviews, training camps, and matches that it's only when you enter the homes of those most in need that you put into context what they're really experiencing. "Sports insulate children from very difficult situations of poverty ," adds the former Barça striker, as a tagline for the documentary released on the foundation's streaming channels.

Barca's program in Morelos aims to contribute to the comprehensive development of 150 primary and secondary school students through soccer, volleyball, and basketball. In Guadalajara, specifically in Lomas de la Primavera, a neighborhood with high inequality and problems with access to basic services, insecurity, and a lack of sports facilities, another 150 children and adolescents have benefited from a project that promotes gender equality through sports activities.

Mexico's absence from the Copa Libertadores

Saviola's relationship with Mexican soccer has several chapters, including the 2001 Copa Libertadores, an edition in which Cruz Azul eliminated his former club, River Plate, and finished runner-up in the continental championship after losing on penalties to Boca Juniors. "We miss Mexican teams in the Libertadores; they gave us that extra boost of not competing at the levels we were used to. That tournament with Mexico was something else. Hopefully, those rivalries can return at some point, because they were spectacular ," he says.

Since Liga MX teams withdrew from the Copa del Rey in 2017, CONCACAF tournaments like the Leagues Cup and the Copa de Campeones have gained prominence in the region. Mexico lacks that step to become a powerhouse , insists the so-called "Conejito ," a personal friend of Rafael Márquez, a five-time World Cup winner and former coach of Barcelona's U19s.

It's a tough nut to crack, but I'd like to see this country grow not just through individual players, but also as a national team. We need more players to leave the country and get involved in the world's best leagues .

Erendira Palma Hernández

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 7, 2025, p. a10

Javier Vasco Aguirre made it very clear: anyone who wants to be with El Tricolor at the 2026 World Cup must show commitment and discipline. With more than a year to go until the tournament, the coach emphasized that he is still analyzing the candidates for the squad, acknowledging those who preferred the Gold Cup over the Club World Cup and sending a message in favor of order.

"It's fantastic!" he said, referring to those who responded to the national team's call-up despite having the possibility of going to the World Cup . These players' attitude inspires a sense of joy in Aguirre, as he thinks that certain practices that once plagued the national team, such as the reluctance to accept call-ups, are beginning to be left behind.

When I was away (from the Tricolor), like 15 years ago, I listened and spoke with players and it seemed like it was an emotional burden to come to Mexico, to play for your country, like it was a punishment to go , he recalled with sadness in a press conference.

And no, you don't have to pay to come and play for your country. You should feel proud to wear the badge, so I'm very happy for the players. A Club World Cup is nothing compared to a World Cup for international teams, especially if it's at home , he maintained.

The World Cup and the Gold Cup overlap in dates because both will be played in June and July in the United States.

Both Pachuca and Monterrey, who will compete in the club tournament, have the opportunity to strengthen their squads with members from other teams.

Players like Alexis Vega and Marcel Ruiz, who were champions with Toluca in the 2025 Clausura, as well as Roberto Álvarado, who was approached to reinforce Pachuca, gave the Tricolor priority to go to the Gold Cup.

Given the wide range of players available for the national team, Aguirre also emphasized that discipline is one of the qualities of the selected players; this is why Rodrigo Huescas, a champion with Copenhagen and facing a sentence in Denmark for speeding, was left out of the CONCACAF tournament.

I spoke with Huescas and told him that I wasn't currently applying to be a national team player for non-football reasons. I try to be consistent; I've asked for seriousness 24/7. We have to lead by example. He didn't do anything serious; I've been fined in Spain for speeding, but the laws are the laws and they must be respected , he asserted.

Chávez, Lara and Tala start against Switzerland

For now, Aguirre is focused on the friendlies against Switzerland and Türkiye, which will serve as preparation for the Gold Cup, which will take place from June 15 to July 7.

For the match against Switzerland, which will be played this Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, Aguirre revealed that he will test young players Mateo Chávez, who recently signed with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, and Emilio Lara, from América. Raúl Tala Rangel (Chivas) will be in goal, as veteran Guillermo Ochoa and Luis Ángel Malagón (Águilas) took a little longer to report to training camp.

El Tricolor will also face Turkey on June 10 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. While El Vasco has already announced his roster for the Gold Cup, he noted that these matches will also serve to get to know other players such as Emilio Lara, Juan Sánchez Purata, Gilberto Sepúlveda, Ramón Juárez, and Jeremy Márquez.

"I've always asked for strong opponents for the World Cup. We're looking for those 26 players; everything counts between now and the tournament. These are very good tests for us; they're teams with players who play in the major leagues of Europe, the best in the world ," Aguirre concluded.

From the editorial staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 7, 2025, p. a10

With a perfect record and already qualified for the 2026 U-20 Women's World Cup, Mexico will now seek to retain its title in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers after beating Costa Rica 4-0 in the semifinals. Mexico will face Canada on Sunday, after eliminating the United States, one of the favorites, 1-0.

Backed by players who, despite being young, already have experience in the Liga MX Femenil, the Mexican team led by Brazilian Doriva Bueno has performed well in the World Cup Qualifiers in Costa Rica. First, they finished top of Group B in the group stage, even ahead of Canada, and now they reached the decisive duel for the title with an organized and attacking style of play.

Double by Alice Soto

Alice Soto, who at just 19 years old is already one of the talents to watch in the Liga MX, was now the protagonist of the duel played at the Alejandro Morera Soto stadium by scoring a double (43 and 77) to close the score in favor of Mexico.

With the Tricolor already ahead 2-0, Soto added another goal with a left-footed shot off a rebound. The Rayadas midfielder sealed the victory shortly after by taking advantage of another home error and finishing from point-blank range inside the box.

While Soto was the most successful in finishing plays in front of goal, she wasn't the only one who shone in the game. Montse Saldívar, considered a promising Mexican soccer star for her strong performances with América, was also key to the Tricolors' victory in this match, opening the scoring just nine minutes in with an attack down the left flank.

Natalia Muñoz, who has forged her career under the Tigres banner, contributed to the victory by scoring the second goal of the afternoon in the 26th minute after rescuing the ball in the area.

The Mexican team's next challenge will be Canada, which narrowly defeated the United States, the tournament's top winner with seven titles and who will miss out on the championship for the second consecutive time.

The Tricolores will now fight for a third Concacaf World Cup title after winning the 2018 and 2023 editions, in which they defeated the United States.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 7, 2025, p. a10

Barranquilla. Colombia drew 0-0 with Peru in Barranquilla and narrowly remained in the direct qualification zone for the 2026 World Cup, in a match in which they left the field to jeers.

The match against the Incas in the fifteenth round of qualifying could have been a turning point for Néstor Lorenzo's team, but the Colombians have yet to take off: they haven't won in five rounds and, in part, hold the last direct ticket to the World Cup.

The result is not positive for Peru either, which is barely holding on to the hope of reaching the playoffs with 11 points.

Without Liverpool star Luis Díaz due to an accumulation of yellow cards, Colombia failed to make the most of its home advantage and remains sixth with 21 points.

They are behind the leader and already qualified Argentina (34) and Ecuador and Paraguay, who have almost secured their place with 24 points. Also behind Brazil (22), who did not win in Carlo Ancelotti's debut in the dugout, and Uruguay, who still have 21, but a better goal difference.

On Tuesday, the Colombians will face Argentina in Buenos Aires, and Peru will host Ecuador on the same day in Lima.

Meanwhile, Venezuela defeated Bolivia 2-0 in Maturín, consolidating its lead over a direct rival in the fight for seventh place.

The victory was crucial for the Vinotinto, who have never advanced to a World Cup in their history. An own goal by Héctor Cuéllar (5) and another goal by Pachuca forward Salomón Rondón (30) sealed the three points.

Venezuela was left with 18 points, four ahead of the Verde, which will host the dejected Chile next week.

UEFA Qualifiers

Norway moved top of Group I after beating Italy 3-0 in the UEFA qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The Norwegians have been on a winning streak, having won twice in a row, defeating Moldova and Israel.

On the other hand, the Azzurri missed the opportunity to earn three valuable points, adding to their Nations League quarterfinal exit to Germany. Other matches: Estonia 0-3 Israel, Gibraltar 0-7 Croatia, North Macedonia 1-1 Belgium.

▲ Cuartoscuro Photo

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 7, 2025, p. a10

Despite Cruz Azul's Concachampions title triumph, a title they hadn't won since 2014, the club's board officially terminated coach Vicente Sánchez's contract yesterday. Sánchez thanked him with a heartfelt video on his official X account. There is speculation that his place could be taken by Argentine Nicolás Larcamón, who coached Necaxa last season.