Itatí Cantoral Recalls Terrifying Moments at Mexico City’s Angel of Independence: “I Thought I Was Going to Die” During Mexico National Team Celebration
Posted on07/09/26 at 17:51
- Itatí Cantoral at the Angel of Independence
- Massive Crowd Descended Into Chaos
- Tragedy Left Four People Dead
The celebration of Mexico’s qualification for the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup turned into a night of fear for thousands of people gathered at the Angel of Independence monument, including actress Itatí Cantoral.
The actress revealed that she experienced moments of genuine panic alongside her 17-year-old daughter, María Itatí, and several of the teenager’s friends after the crowd suddenly became uncontrollable.
Her account emerged days after the celebration, during which four people lost their lives, including three who died from asphyxiation, according to authorities.
Cantoral’s testimony offers a personal perspective on what happened during one of the largest public gatherings ever recorded in Mexico City.
Itatí Cantoral Describes the Most Frightening Moments
In an interview with Pepe y Teo’s digital channel, the actress recalled that everything had been unfolding normally as they enjoyed the match and the festive atmosphere before the celebration.
However, she explained that the situation changed abruptly as the number of people continued to grow beyond control.
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She said: «Unfortunately, I also went through this experience. There were about five minutes when I truly thought I was going to die along with my daughter and her friends.»
She later added: «I had to apologize to their parents.» Cantoral explained that her daughter’s friends had been under her care that evening.
The Crowd Changed Everything Within Seconds
Cantoral said she and the teenagers had arrived early to watch the match on giant screens installed near the Angel of Independence.
According to her account, the celebration remained peaceful until the number of attendees suddenly surged.
She recalled: «I don’t know exactly when it happened. We were having a wonderful time.» She continued: «The atmosphere suddenly became tense. I was there with 17-year-olds.»
Describing the frightening moment, she added: «I swear, in a single second everything changed. I don’t even know how it happened, but crowds and crowds of people came rushing in. I don’t know where they came from or why they pushed forward.»
Itatí Cantoral Feared They Would Not Escape
As pressure from the crowd intensified, Itatí Cantoral feared for the safety of everyone with her.
During the interview, she said there were several terrifying minutes when escaping seemed almost impossible.
She recalled: «For about five or ten minutes, I truly believed neither I, nor my daughter, nor her friends were going to make it out alive.»
Her account aligns with reports describing the chaos that unfolded during the celebration, as thousands of people attempted to move through an area that had become dangerously overcrowded.
@cristuzo13 En entrevista con #PepeyTeo la actriz #ItatiCantoral narra la experiencia que vivio junto a sus hijos en los festejos de la selección nacional…
Celebration Ended in Tragedy
The celebration following Mexico’s victory drew an enormous crowd that, according to reports cited by the Associated Press, exceeded 1.4 million people around the Angel of Independence.
Authorities reported that four people died that night, with three of the fatalities attributed to asphyxiation, reportedly during a crowd surge.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada later acknowledged that it had been: «Very difficult to manage the risks» given the extraordinary number of people gathered at the site.
Brugada also described the event as: «The largest gathering in the history of Mexico City,»
as discussions continue over the safety measures needed for events of that magnitude.