Mexico and Portugal Draw 0-0 in Azteca Stadium Reopening, Fan Dies in Fall

Mexico City — Mexico and Portugal played to a disappointing 0-0 draw in the reopening of the historic Azteca Stadium on Saturday, a match overshadowed by the death of a fan who fell from an upper level of the venue.

The friendly, which drew 81,344 spectators, served as a key warm-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup but lacked excitement and decisive play, leaving a bittersweet feeling among attendees.

Debut, Ovations and Few Highlights

The match marked the debut for the Mexican national team of Álvaro Fidalgo, a Spanish-born midfielder who saw playing time in the tricolor midfield.

For Portugal, forward Paulinho, who plays for Toluca, received strong applause when he entered in the second half, one of the night’s most notable moments.

Protests and Tension Outside the Stadium

Before the match, various groups protested near the stadium with different causes: mothers searching for missing relatives, groups against gentrification, activists for marijuana legalization, and animal rights defenders.

These mobilizations marked the social context of a day that combined soccer, protest, and social visibility.

Tragedy Mars Reopening

The day was also marked by a tragic incident: a fan died after falling from an upper level inside the stadium.

According to reports, the man attempted to descend on the exterior of the building, resulting in the fatal fall.

Lineups

Mexico: Raúl Rangel; Israel Reyes, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo; Erik Lira, Álvaro Fidalgo, Obed Vargas; Roberto Alvarado, Raúl Jiménez, Brian Gutiérrez. Manager: Javier Aguirre.

Portugal: Rui Silva; Matheus Nunes, Antonio Silva, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Ruben Neves, Samu Costa; Francisco Conceição, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix; Gonçalo Ramos. Manager: Roberto Martínez.