Mexico vows new safety measures after World Cup parties turn deadly
MEXICO CITY — After Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 in the first round of World Cup qualifying, fans flocked to the streets to celebrate, honking horns, waving flags and chanting “Let’s go to the Angel!” they shouted.
An estimated 1 million people flocked to the Angel of Independence, a towering monument on Mexico City’s main boulevard, to watch the match on giant screens. More revelers headed there to party after the match. Red, green and white fireworks exploded, music blared and strangers danced and cheered together.
But the street was very crowded. Panic increased and many fans found themselves huddled together with no clear means of escape.
Authorities stated that 3 people died due to drowning. A fourth reveler died of a heart attack.
The tragedy overshadowed the nationwide euphoria over the improbable victory of El Tri, as the Mexican national team is known. The team won four consecutive matches at Mexico City’s legendary Estadio Azteca to advance to the last 16 of the tournament for the first time in four decades.
Mexico’s improbable run, after years of failing to advance out of the group stage, has sparked a collective sense of hope, a rare commodity in a country struggling with powerful drug cartels, a stagnant economy and unprecedented pressure from President Trump. Here an unofficial slogan emerged: “What about you?” “What if?” means. What if Mexico’s team could somehow manage to overcome the extraordinary?
The country’s massive celebrations made international headlines as videos of enthusiastic fans shaking cars and even buses went viral. After Mexico’s goal in the Ecuador match, so many fans stood up at the same time that seismographs there recorded “artificial earthquakes”.
But this fun also had a dark side. Two other tragedies also marred the celebrations.
In Cabo San Lucas last month, a jubilant crowd waved a car down the street after Mexico’s victory over the Czech Republic. 17 people were injured as a result of the driver speeding. A similar incident resulted in injuries in Chihuahua City after Mexico beat South Korea.
As the Mexican team prepares to face England on Sunday night in what many predict will be El Tri’s toughest match yet, officials across the country are promising to strengthen safety protocols.
Authorities in Mexico City say they will again erect screens along Paseo de la Reforma, the capital’s iconic thoroughfare, but will keep the curtains open to prevent crowds from congregating in one spot.
Mayor Clara Brugada discouraged fans from going to the Angel monument, saying the city would hold celebrations elsewhere.
Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities were investigating what went wrong during the deadly stampede at Angel, but officials dodged blame.
“It is very difficult to assign police to control 1 million people,” he said.
He appealed to fans to “avoid excessive alcohol consumption” during Sunday’s match and asked them to look out for each other. “Act responsibly,” he said.
Left-wing populist Sheinbaum has refused to attend World Cup matches in person, saying “the tickets are too expensive”.
But at his daily press conference, he celebrated all the team’s victories and invited on stage Merlin, the duck who recently became an internet sensation after waddling among fans across the Reforma in his green Mexico jersey.
Cecilia Sánchez Vidal in the game TThe Times’ Mexico bureau contributed to this report.
