Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has affirmed that Mexico continues to be a safe destination for international travelers, even after a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of four people during large-scale celebrations following Mexico’s victory over Ecuador. In light of the event, President Sheinbaum defended the actions of Mexico City’s authorities and announced the implementation of new measures to improve crowd management at future public gatherings. She emphasized that the unfortunate incident should not deter tourism, maintaining that Mexico remains a secure place for visitors.
Her remarks came in response to updated travel guidance from the United Kingdom, which advised its citizens to exercise caution during upcoming celebrations associated with Mexico’s football matches. The advisory cited an increase in mobile phone thefts and drink spiking at crowded events. Acknowledging these concerns, Sheinbaum noted that local authorities are already taking steps to enhance safety following Tuesday’s incident, where three individuals died from asphyxiation and one suffered a fatal cardiac arrest amid a crowd of over a million people near Paseo de la Reforma.
To address these issues, Sheinbaum revealed plans to install additional large screens along Paseo de la Reforma. This strategy aims to disperse the audience more evenly and reduce dangerous crowd densities. She also highlighted that security personnel and officials from both the federal government and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection will continue to assist and guide fans during future celebrations. While acknowledging the difficulty of managing such large crowds, she pointed out that the focus will be on public guidance rather than attempting to physically control more than a million people.
Echoing these efforts, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced enhancements to civil protection, healthcare, and public security measures ahead of the next major football celebration slated for Sunday. During the previous event, around 15,000 police officers, including over 4,200 stationed along Paseo de la Reforma, were deployed but could not prevent the tragic outcome. Brugada described the gathering as the largest public crowd in the city’s history, with an estimated attendance of more than 1.4 million people.
City officials are now encouraging fans to celebrate across multiple locations instead of congregating solely around the Angel of Independence monument. Additionally, authorities are advocating for responsible alcohol consumption and considering restrictions on alcohol sales in central areas during major public events. Further crowd management and safety measures are anticipated to be announced before the weekend as officials brace for another large turnout.