At least two people have died during massive celebrations in Mexico City after Mexico’s national football team qualified for the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the city’s health ministry, the victims—a 19-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man—died from asphyxiation amid the huge crowds that gathered to celebrate the team’s historic victory.
Authorities have not confirmed local media reports claiming that a third person also lost their life during the celebrations.
The tragedy followed Mexico’s impressive 2-0 victory over Ecuador, a result that ended the country’s 40-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout-stage victory.
An estimated one million people flooded the streets of Mexico City, with the largest gatherings taking place around the iconic Angel of Independence monument, according to the city government.
Mexico secured the breakthrough midway through the first half when Julián Quiñones fired home a powerful strike before later setting up Raúl Jiménez to seal the victory.
The win marked Mexico’s first knockout-stage success at the World Cup since the 1986 tournament, which the country hosted.
With the victory, the co-hosts extended their unbeaten World Cup record at the Azteca Stadium to 10 matches and advanced to the Round of 16, where they will face either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mexico also emerged as one of only three teams to win all three of their group-stage matches without conceding a goal, alongside France and Argentina.
While celebrations erupted across the country following the landmark achievement, the fatalities have cast a shadow over what was expected to be a joyous occasion, prompting renewed concerns about crowd safety during large public gatherings.