German fan dies outside Azteca before World Cup opening

The festive opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City was marked by a tragic death and significant unrest outside the stadium, even as the host nation secured a decisive victory inside. An 81-year-old German fan died after suffering a heart attack near Gate 1 of the iconic Estadio Azteca hours before the opening match on Thursday, June 11.

According to authorities, the man collapsed while attempting to enter the stadium. Emergency medical teams stationed at the venue performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene before transporting him to the National Institute of Cardiology in Mexico City, where he was later pronounced dead. Initial reports from the city's Secretariat of Citizen Security had stated the man was in stable condition after being hospitalized, but officials later confirmed his death. The incident cast a somber tone over the buildup to the inaugural match of the expanded 48-team tournament.

The match proceeded as scheduled, with Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0 in a Group A contest before a capacity crowd of over 80,000. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez secured the win for El Tri. The match was also notable for its physicality, ending with...