Two die celebrating football team’s victory  

At least two people have died during massive celebrations in Mexico City after Mexico’s national team secured a place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup.

According to the city government, the fatalities occurred on Wednesday as more than one million fans gathered across the capital to celebrate the team’s historic victory.

The city’s health ministry said a 19-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man died from asphyxiation during the crowded celebrations. Authorities have yet to confirm reports by local media that a third person also died.

Thousands of jubilant supporters flooded the streets, particularly around the iconic Angel of Independence monument, following Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador.

The victory ended Mexico’s 40-year wait for a knockout-stage win at the World Cup, marking the country’s first triumph in the competition’s elimination rounds since it hosted the tournament in 1986.

Julian Quiñones opened the scoring midway through the first half with a powerful strike before setting up Raúl Jiménez to seal the victory.

The result also extended Mexico’s unbeaten run to 10 World Cup matches at the Azteca Stadium, strengthening the co-hosts’ hopes of making a deep run in the tournament.

Mexico progressed to the Round of 16 after winning all three of their group-stage matches without conceding a goal, joining France and Argentina as the only teams to achieve a perfect group-stage record. They will next face either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo for a place in the

quarter-finals.