Banorte Stadium, Mexico: Man dies after falling from VIP area at FIFA World Cup opening ceremony venue

Investigations are underway after a patron attending a soccer match at the stadium set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony fell to his death from a VIP area.

A statement released by the Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) confirmed the incident occurred shortly before kickoff in the friendly match between Mexico and Portugal at the Banorte Stadium in Mexico on Saturday.

The man reportedly landed in a car park after plunging from a VIP box at the newly renovated venue, which is a flagship for the world’s marquee football event later this year.

He is believed to have climbed to the exterior of the venue and tried to jump from a range of second level outdoor box seats down to the first level. Local authorities told Reuters that they believe he may have been intoxicated.

“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 social media, People said.

“The CDMX Prosecutor’s Office will continue investigations in a thorough manner and will keep the public informed as relevant progress is obtained.

“From the outset, ministerial, forensic, and investigative police personnel arrived at the scene to begin the corresponding procedures,” the MCPO said.

“The area was secured, the crime scene was documented, and evidence was collected by experts specialising in criminalistics, photography, and forensic medicine.”

The MCPO are yet to release the identity of the man as they try to piece together the moments before the tragic event.

“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,” the MCPO said.

“We will continue its investigations thoroughly and will keep the public informed as relevant progress is made.”

The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the stadium on June 11 with matches set to be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada throughout the tournament.

Renovations have been conducted on the stadium previously known as Estadio Azteca Stadium, which opened in 1966, with over $150 million ploughed into the project ahead of the World Cup.

Banorte Stadium is currently the fourth-largest football stadium in the world and can accommodate around 87,000 people.

The venue will become a three-time host of World Cup matches in 2026 after previous tournaments in Mexico in 1970 and 1986.