The Mexican national team’s qualification for the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup was marred by a tragedy in Mexico City. The celebrations, which drew thousands of fans to Paseo de la Reforma, resulted in three deaths by asphyxiation, according to information from the capital’s Health Sector Command Center.
Following the victory of the team coached by Javier Aguirre over Ecuador, a crowd gathered around the Angel of Independence to celebrate the Tricolor’s advancement to the next round of the tournament, turning the area into the main gathering spot for Mexican fans.
Health authorities initially reported the deaths of two people. In a statement, they confirmed the deaths by asphyxiation of a 44-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, both of whom had already been identified by their families, despite receiving advanced resuscitation efforts.
In the same report, the Mexico City government expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones, noting that they would be provided with the necessary support in light of this situation.
Hours later, authorities updated the death toll and reported the death of a third person. The victim was a 48-year-old woman who was found unconscious on Berna Street in the Juárez neighborhood of the Cuauhtémoc borough. Paramedics performed CPR on her before transporting her to a hospital, where she was ultimately pronounced dead. The medical report determined that the cause of death was also asphyxiation.
Thus, the celebration of Mexico’s advancement to the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup ended with a death toll of three, according to the official report issued by Mexico City authorities.
