Soccer Fan Dies After Fall from VIP Section at Stadium Set to Host 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony

Escher WalcottSun, March 29, 2026 at 1:18 PM UTC

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Banrote Stadium in Mexico CityCredit: Yuri CORTEZ / AFP via Getty -

A man fell to his death at Banorte Stadium in Mexico City on Saturday, March 28

The incident took place moments before Mexico and Portugal's friendly soccer match

Banorte Stadium is set to host the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in June, after undergoing a $105 million renovation

A man has died at the newly renovated stadium, which is scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony this summer.

Moments before Mexico and Portugal’s friendly match was set to begin at Mexico City's Banorte Stadium on Saturday, March 28, a man fell to his death from the VIP box, the Mexico City Prosecutor's Office (MCPO) said in a statement.

He is believed to have climbed the exterior of the venue while intoxicated as he tried to jump from the second-level box seats to the first level, before falling to the ground, Reuters reported, citing local authorities.

"According to the first reports, the events were recorded in the building's staging area, from where the person fell to the parking area, causing the loss of his life," said the MCPO in a translated statement shared on Facebook. "The CDMX Prosecutor’s Office will continue investigations in a thorough manner and will keep the public informed as relevant progress is obtained."

Banorte Stadium in Mexico City on March 28Credit: Agustin Cuevas/Getty

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“From the outset, ministerial, forensic, and investigative police personnel arrived at the scene to begin the corresponding procedures,” the MCPO added on its website. “The area was secured, the crime scene was documented, and evidence was collected by experts specializing in criminalistics, photography, and forensic medicine.”

Video surveillance and witness testimonies are being reviewed to determine how the incident unfolded.

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“The legal autopsy protocol is underway, in order to establish with certainty the cause of death, as well as the physical condition of the person at the time of the fall,” said the MCPO. “[We] will continue its investigations thoroughly and will keep the public informed as relevant progress is made…”

The deceased soccer fan has not been publicly identified at this time.

Portugal plays against Mexico in a friendly match at Banorte Stadium in Mexico City on March 28Credit: CARL DE SOUZA / AFP via Getty

The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at Banorte Stadium on June 11. The upcoming tournament is being hosted by three countries for the first time in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

The Banorte Stadium, previously known as Estadio Azteca Stadium, opened in May 1966 and is the fourth-largest soccer stadium in the world, seating 87,000 people, per TNT Sports and Stadium DB.

The venue has been renovated ahead of the World Cup after receiving a $105 million loan from the bank Banorte, per ESPN. In June, the stadium will become the first to host three World Cup finals, after hosting the 1970, 1986 and 2026 tournaments.

PEOPLE has reached out to the MCPO for further comment.

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Source: “AOL Sports”