Boy dies as fountain collapses during Spain World Cup celebrations
Emergency officials said a 13-year-old was killed and several others were hurt after part of a fountain gave way in Ciudad Rodrigo.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
A 13-year-old boy died after part of a fountain collapsed during celebrations of Spain’s World Cup victory, regional emergency services said. The accident turned an overnight gathering in Ciudad Rodrigo into a deadly scene as fans marked the national team’s first title since 2010.
Emergency services said the collapse happened shortly after midnight on Monday at the Arbol Gordo fountain in the centre of the western Spanish city. Ciudad Rodrigo, a walled medieval city of about 12,000 people, is in Salamanca province near Spain’s border with Portugal.
Fountain gave way in city centre
Hundreds of residents had gathered at the fountain after Spain beat Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, according to emergency officials. The upper section of the monument broke loose and hit several people, they said.
In a post on X, emergency services said calls came in a few minutes after 12:30 a.m. local time reporting that a fountain had collapsed onto numerous people. Officials said another young person was among the injured and was believed to be in serious condition with a broken leg.
Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that the fountain was understood to have collapsed under the weight of many people who had climbed onto it during the celebrations. No further details about the number of injured people were provided in the reports.
Ciudad Rodrigo’s town hall issued a statement expressing condolences for the boy’s death. The municipality said the city shared the grief of the child’s family and friends, and said a celebration of Spain’s World Cup win had become a tragedy.
Spain won final in extra time
Fans celebrated across Spain through the night after the national team defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The match was played at New York New Jersey Stadium, with the United States among the cohosts of the tournament.
The game remained scoreless through regulation time before going to extra time. Ferran Torres scored the only goal, giving Spain the 2026 World Cup title.
The victory was Spain’s second football World Cup triumph and its first since 2010, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The Ciudad Rodrigo collapse occurred as crowds in towns and cities around the country gathered to celebrate the result.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.