Concacaf U-20 Championship games moved from Celaya after police officer killed

Concacaf announced Wednesday that it will move multiple teams away from the Mexican city of Celaya after a police officer was murdered outside a team hotel.

The confederation, in consultation with local authorities and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, has relocated Group A’s final matches and several knockout round games to León.

“Following a security incident outside of a team hotel in Celaya, and in an abundance of caution and to ensure the best possible experience for all participants, Concacaf, in coordination with the FMF, has decided to move the remainder of the tournament to the cities of Irapuato (Estadio Sergio León Chávez) and León (Estadio León),” read a Concacaf statement .

“No further matches will be played in Celaya.”

Local reports said that armed men pulled up on a motorcycle before opening fire on two police officers who were on duty guarding Cuba’s team hotel. Both officers were hospitalized in the aftermath, with one passing away.

Celaya’s Estadio Miguel Alemán Valdés was set to host the final matches for Group A — comprised of the United States, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Jamaica — on Thursday. Both prior rounds of play in the group took place in Celaya.

However, per the confederation, those games will be delayed by one day to July 26 in order for all parties to relocate to León, nearly two hours to the northwest.

Estadio León was not slated to host any matches, but will now be the site for both remaining Group A games, two quarterfinals, both semifinals, and the tournament final. All seven games, which include the likely path for the United States under-20 team to the tournament final, had been slated to take place in Celaya.