Approximately 7 million people attended soccer-related events in Mexico City during the 39 days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to official estimates from the city government.
The head of the Mexico City Government Secretariat, César Cravioto, explained that the figure includes crowds from various areas of the capital, especially the Historic Center and Paseo de la Reforma Avenue.
“I think we reached almost 7 million. Just at the Fan Fest and around the Zócalo, there were more than 2 million, plus the days Mexico played, plus all the days there were Fan Fests in other locations, and well, beyond the numbers in those three areas where there were the largest gatherings, especially during Mexico’s matches, you saw rivers of people all over the city. So I think we’re hovering around 7 million,” he emphasized.
100,000 PEOPLE CROWDED THE ZÓCALO TO WATCH THE FINAL
This figure represents 76 percent of the population of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs, as counted by INEGI in the 2020 census, which totaled 9,209,944 inhabitants.
Cravioto specified that yesterday, during the final match, there were more than 100,000 people in the Zócalo and surrounding areas, as well as an additional 18,000 in the areas around the Angel of Independence and Cibeles Fountains, where fans of the Spanish national team, the eventual champion, predominated.
Cravioto added that during some of the massive World Cup gatherings, approximately 100,000 units of alcoholic beverages were confiscated, 15 establishments and eight parking lots were shut down for illegally selling them, and several people were brought before the Civic Court for selling them and resisting removal.
He also noted that 50,000 pesos were given to the families of those who died in soccer-related incidents and that they continue to receive support.
FAN FEST TO BE REMOVED THIS WEEKEND
The Zócalo will be cleared by the weekend, according to authorities. The newspaper Reforma confirmed this Monday that after an official event by the Mexico City government, groups of workers began arriving to start dismantling the Fan Fest in the Plaza de la Constitución.
Cravioto indicated that the work will take less than a week. “They’re starting to dismantle everything today. In fact, they’ll begin dismantling it right now, as soon as the event ends, and we estimate that everything will be taken down in five days,” the official stated.
Mayor Clara Brugada said in a pre-recorded video that a review will be conducted this week following the 39 days of matches at Azteca Stadium and broadcasts at soccer festivals in public spaces.
“Next Wednesday, we’re going to report on an evaluation of the World Cup, that is, how we fared in terms of infrastructure, security, transportation, culture, and everything else we did as a government to make this World Cup possible. There were those who initially said it wouldn’t be possible, they criticized us, but look, we did our best, and the result was very good, a great success,” Brugada emphasized.
Source: vanguardia
