Tragedy at the 2026 World Cup: one dead after shooting at a California fan zone
Violence struck a World Cup fan area in San José, where one person died and another was seriously injured; the attack is under investigation.
The 2026 World Cup experienced one of its darkest moments off the pitch. One person was killed and another seriously injured in a shooting at an official fan zone in San José, California, one of the host cities for the tournament.
The attack took place on Sunday night in San Pedro Square, a popular gathering spot for thousands of fans throughout the competition. According to the San José Police Department, the incident is being investigated as a homicide, while authorities continue efforts to identify the suspect and determine the motive.
Police said one victim died at the scene, while the second was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Following reports of gunfire, a large police presence cordoned off the area and temporarily closed nearby streets and businesses.
A Reuters correspondent at the scene documented the emergency response, including the evacuation of one victim on a stretcher, as dozens of people fled the area amid confusion. No arrests have been reported so far.
Among the eyewitness accounts, a security guard said they saw the injured victim with blood on their neck and upper back, a stark contrast to the festive atmosphere that has typically defined the fan zone during the World Cup.
Although the shooting occurred when no match was being shown on the fan zone’s giant screens, the site had welcomed hundreds of supporters just hours earlier to watch South Africa lose to Canada in the opening match of the Round of 32.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with videos or information that could help reconstruct the events to come forward. The tragedy has cast a shadow over the 2026 World Cup, adding a grim chapter to what is meant to be football’s biggest celebration.
Muere una persona en un tiroteo en una 'fan zone' del Mundial de Fútbol en California, Estados Unidoshttps://t.co/MwEOT7ezh0 pic.twitter.com/ZwpZp4bCgc
— Europa Press TV (@europapress_tv) June 29, 2026
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