fan safety

San Jose World Cup Watch Party Violence: The 72-Hour Safety Scramble

by
San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose, site of the World Cup watch party where violence erupted after Mexico's win over Ecuador

Two people were stabbed. A crowd swarmed an ambulance trying to reach them. Bottles flew at police. By 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to KQED, San Jose police had declared an unlawful assembly at San Pedro Square, where roughly 40,000 people had gathered for an official San Jose World Cup watch party to celebrate Mexico’s 2-0 … Read more

Kansas City’s World Cup: Shot At on the Road to Arrowhead

by
Downtown Kansas City, Missouri skyline, host city of the 2026 World Cup

Alejandro Berbari had done everything right. He had his ticket to Argentina against Algeria, he had his wife and two friends beside him, and rather than risk the traffic he booked an Uber to carry them the last stretch to Arrowhead. Then, on Interstate 70 near the Prospect Avenue exit, a car came up fast … Read more