Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to reassure international tourists about the safety of traveling to Mexico following the tragic deaths of four individuals during large-scale celebrations marking Mexico’s recent football victory over Ecuador. Speaking in the aftermath of the incident, Sheinbaum defended the actions of Mexico City’s authorities and announced the introduction of new measures to better manage large gatherings at public events. She stressed that these unfortunate incidents should not deter tourism, asserting that Mexico remains a secure destination for travelers.
The president’s remarks came in response to updated travel guidance from the United Kingdom, which advised its citizens to exercise caution during upcoming celebrations related to Mexico’s football matches. The advisory highlighted an uptick in reports of mobile phone theft and drink spiking during crowded events. In light of these concerns, Sheinbaum assured that local authorities are already implementing additional safety protocols following the incident on Tuesday, where three individuals died from asphyxiation and another suffered a fatal cardiac arrest amid crowds exceeding one million near Paseo de la Reforma.
To address these issues, the Mexico City government plans to install more large screens along Paseo de la Reforma to disperse spectators over a wider area, aiming to alleviate dangerous crowd densities. Security personnel and officials from the federal government and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection will continue to assist fans during future celebrations. While acknowledging the complexity of managing such vast crowds, Sheinbaum emphasized that authorities are prioritizing public guidance over attempting to physically control gatherings of over a million people.
In anticipation of the next major football celebration scheduled for Sunday, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced enhancements in civil protection, healthcare, and public security measures. Despite deploying approximately 15,000 police officers, including over 4,200 along Paseo de la Reforma, during the previous event, the deadly incident could not be prevented. Brugada noted that this gathering was the largest public crowd ever recorded in the city’s history, with an estimated attendance of more than 1.4 million people.
City officials are now encouraging supporters to celebrate across multiple locations rather than congregating solely around the Angel of Independence monument. Authorities are also promoting responsible alcohol consumption and considering restrictions on alcohol sales in central areas during major public events. Additional crowd management and safety measures are expected to be announced ahead of the weekend, as officials prepare for another significant turnout.