MEXICO CITY — After Mexico's 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the first round of the World Cup knockout stage, fans took to the streets to celebrate, honking horns, waving flags and shouting, “Let's go to the Angel!”
An estimated one million people flocked to the Angel of Independence, an imposing monument on Mexico City's main boulevard, to watch the game on giant screens. More revelers headed there after the game to celebrate. Red, green, and white fireworks exploded, music blared, and strangers danced and cheered together.
But the street was too busy. Panic increased and many fans found themselves crowded together with no clear way out.
Three people died from asphyxiation, authorities said. A fourth reveler died of a heart attack.
The tragedy extinguished what had been the national joy over the unexpected triumphs of El Tri, as Mexico's national team is known. The team has won four games in a row, allowing it to reach the round of 16 of the competition for the first time in four decades.
Mexico's improbable run after years of failing to make it out of the group stage has sparked a sense of collective hope, a rare commodity in a country battling powerful drug cartels, a stagnant economy and unprecedented pressure from President Trump. An informal slogan has emerged here: “And if?” It means “What if?” What if Team Mexico is somehow able to achieve something extraordinary?
The country's massive celebrations have made international headlines, with videos of enthusiastic fans swinging cars and even buses going viral. During the Ecuador game, so many fans jumped simultaneously after Mexico's goal that seismographs here recorded “artificial earthquakes.”
But there has been a dark side to the revelry. Two other tragedies have also marred the celebrations.
Last month in Cabo San Lucas, a crowd rejoicing after Mexico's victory over the Czech Republic shook a car in the street. The driver accelerated and injured 17 people. A similar incident in the city of Chihuahua after Mexico's victory over South Korea also resulted in injuries.
As Team Mexico prepares to face England on Sunday night, a match many predict will be El Tri's toughest yet, authorities across the country are vowing to strengthen safety protocols.
Mexico City authorities say they will once again put up screens along Paseo de la Reforma, the capital's iconic thoroughfare, but will space them out to prevent crowds from gathering in one spot.
Mayor Clara Brugada discouraged fans from going to the Angel monument, saying the city would offer celebrations elsewhere.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities were investigating what went wrong during the deadly Angel stampede, but deflected blame from officials.
“It is very difficult to deploy police to contain a million people,” he said.
He urged fans to “avoid excessive consumption of alcohol” during Sunday's game and asked them to look out for each other. “Act responsibly,” he said.
Sheinbaum, a left-wing populist, has refused to attend World Cup matches in person, saying “tickets are too expensive.”
But he has celebrated each of the team's victories at his daily news conference, recently inviting to the stage Merlin, a duck who became an Internet sensation for walking among fans along Reforma in a green Mexico jersey.
Cecilia Sánchez Vidal in tThe Times' Mexico bureau contributed to this report.
