Four People Die in Mexico City World Cup Celebrations After Mexico Beats Ecuador

Four people died during World Cup celebrations in downtown Mexico City after the national team’s victory over Ecuador secured a place in the World Cup Round of 16, Mexico City’s Health Secretariat said on X.

“Mexico City Department of Health confirmed this Wednesday that a fourth death linked to the mass events held on Paseo de la Reforma after the Mexican national team's victory has been recorded”

Ambito

The deaths occurred near the iconic Angel of Independence monument where thousands had gathered Tuesday night, and authorities said the victims died of asphyxiation, with ages reported as 48, 44 and 19.

Ambito

Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said emergency crews responded immediately after receiving reports of three unconscious people, but they had already died.

Brugada also said another man, about 30, was treated after suffering an epileptic seizure, convulsions, and gastrointestinal bleeding, and he died shortly afterward at a hospital of cardiorespiratory arrest.

The celebrations followed Mexico’s 2-0 win over Ecuador at Estadio Azteca, which sent the co-host nation into the round of 16.

Clara Brugada Molina, the head of Mexico City’s government, wrote on X that emergency teams “immediately responded” to a report of three unconscious people at different locations near Paseo de la Reforma.

The BBC reported that Brugada urged fans to “always celebrate with responsibility, care, and empathy” in a social media post after the deaths were announced.

BBC

The BBC said health authorities treated three unconscious people at different locations around Paseo de la Reforma before transporting them to hospital, and that after first aid and CPR they were transferred for specialised medical care.

The Guardian said the deaths occurred near the Angel of Independence landmark, where thousands had gathered to celebrate Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador, and that emergency teams tended to three unconscious people at different locations around Paseo de la Reforma.

The Guardian also reported that authorities later reported a fourth fatality, a man in his 30s who was taken to hospital suffering from severe seizures and gastrointestinal bleeding and died after a cardiac arrest.

Mexico City authorities said the Office of the Attorney General (FGJ) opened investigative files in all cases that led to the deaths of four people and asked that the investigation go to the ultimate consequences.

“Mexico City Government confirmed that the number of deaths increased to four during the celebrations held on Paseo de la Reforma after the Mexican national team's victory in the 2026 World Cup, and announced that security protocols will be strengthened for future celebrations”

EL CEO

At a press conference on July 1, 2026, Pablo Vázquez Camacho, head of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), said, “We will join the investigations to determine how these events occurred,” and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

Nadine Flora Gasman Zylbermann, CDMX Secretary of Health, said three people died from asphyxia and the fourth case involved an alleged intoxication with status epilepticus, a convulsive crisis, and bleeding in the digestive tract, and at the hospital the patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest.

The EL CEO reported that Clara Brugada ordered the strengthening of civil protection, health, and safety protocols in anticipation of celebrations that could occur for the match between the Mexican national team and England, scheduled for next July 5.

The same report said authorities reported that celebrations for Mexico’s victory drew an estimated 1.4 million people at different points in the capital, including about 820,000 on Paseo de la Reforma, Avenida Juárez, and the Monument to the Revolution.