Three Fans Suffocate in Mexico City Crowds During World Cup Celebrations
What should have been a night of celebrations in Mexico City turned tragic after three people lost their lives due to suffocation in massive crowds in the streets.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday night following Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca. Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez secured the tournament co-hosts their first World Cup knockout stage win since 1986. The victory triggered intense euphoria across the capital's metropolitan area, which houses more than 20 million residents.
According to the local government, upward of one million fans poured into the streets, packing the area around the iconic Angel of Independence monument and Paseo de la Reforma boulevard. In the chaotic crush of the massive gathering, emergency personnel were called to assist multiple people who had lost consciousness on the ground.
Medical teams tried to save the individuals, but local health officials confirmed that a 19-year-old woman, a 48-year-old woman, and a 44-year-old man died from asphyxiation.
In a statement detailing the emergency response, the capital's health authority said:
“After performing first aid and CPR techniques on the patients, they were transferred to a hospital for specialised medical care.”
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada extended her sympathies to the grieving families, promising them full support. Addressing the public on social media, she shared a post from the secretary of public health, writing:
“As reported by @SSaludCdMx, the emergency teams of Mexico City immediately attended to the report of three unconscious individuals at different points near Paseo de la Reforma. All medical response protocols were activated; however, sadly, they lost their lives. We are in contact with their families to provide them with all the necessary support and accompaniment. With my heart in my hand, I send a hug and my most sincere condolences to their loved ones. We reiterate the call to always celebrate with responsibility, care, and empathy.”
The tragedy followed an incredibly tense and heavily populated buildup to the match, fueled partly by recent geopolitical friction between Mexico and Ecuador. The night before the game, Mexican supporters targeted Ecuador's hotel with a barrage of noise, using cars, motorcycles, drums, and DJ setups to disrupt the players' sleep. During the match itself, local fans reportedly used a controversial homophobic slur chant directed at the opposing goalkeeper.
The tension and crowd control issues extended outside the capital as well. Earlier on Tuesday in Monterrey, authorities had to deploy tear gas at Parque Fundidora to restrain fans who were climbing fences to access giant screens broadcasting the match.
The win advances Mexico into the round of 16. Depending on the outcome of Wednesday's match between DR Congo and Thomas Tuchel's England squad, Mexico could find themselves playing England at the Estadio Azteca this coming Sunday.
