Three Mexico fans crushed to death as million-strong World Cup celebrations turn tragic

Three people were crushed to death in Mexico City on Tuesday night after an estimated one million fans poured onto the streets to celebrate Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca — the co-hosts’ first World Cup knockout win in 40 years.

The official account of Mexico City’s secretary of public health confirmed that a 44-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a 48-year-old woman all died from asphyxiation. All three incidents occurred near Paseo de la Reforma in the centre of the capital.

Clara Brugada, the head of government in Mexico City, addressed the deaths on X: “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.”

Brugada added that her office was in contact with the victims’ families and called on supporters to “always celebrate with responsibility, care, and empathy.”

Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez had sealed Mexico’s passage to the last 16, sending the nation into euphoria. The result carries enormous historical weight — Mexico had not won a knockout match at a World Cup since 1986 — but the celebrations have now been overshadowed by the loss of three lives.

The trouble was not confined to the capital. Earlier on Tuesday, police in Monterrey resorted to tear gas to control crowds who had scaled fences at Parque Fundidora, where giant screens were showing the match.

Tensions had been building around the fixture for days. Late on Monday night, Mexico fans gathered outside Ecuador’s team hotel in Mexico City, using horns, drums, motorcycles and cars to disrupt their opponents’ preparations. During the match itself, sections of the Mexico support were accused of using a homophobic chant — a one-word slur directed at the opposing goalkeeper during goal kicks — that FIFA has repeatedly sought to stamp out.

Mexico could face England in the next round if Thomas Tuchel’s side overcome DR Congo, a prospect that would generate enormous interest given the venue would again be the Estadio Azteca. For now, though, the country’s historic qualification is inseparable from the tragedy that followed it.