A crowd surge during a public screening of a World Cup match in Jordan’s capital, Amman, has left one person dead and eight others injured, according to authorities.
The incident occurred on Tuesday near the Roman Theatre in Amman, where thousands of football fans gathered to watch Jordan’s 2–1 defeat to Algeria on giant outdoor screens.
Officials said the gathering, held at Hashemite Square adjacent to the historic site, drew far more people than expected. While the venue is designed to accommodate around 6,000 spectators, a ministerial source estimated that approximately 15,000 people turned up for the screening.
A spokesman for Jordan’s public safety directorate confirmed that nine people were taken to hospital following a crowd movement during the event.
“One of the injured died shortly after being admitted,” the spokesman said, adding that the remaining victims were receiving treatment for injuries ranging from stable to moderate conditions.
A medical source told AFP that the deceased was a Jordanian man in his twenties.
The crowd had gathered to watch the Group stage match between Jordan and Algeria, which was being played at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara. Algeria came from behind to win the match 2–1 after trailing in the first half.
The large turnout highlights growing enthusiasm for football in Jordan, but also raises concerns over crowd management and public safety during major sporting broadcasts.
Authorities have not yet announced whether an investigation will be launched into the organisation of the viewing event or the safety measures in place.
Jordan had entered the match after an earlier defeat against Austria, while Argentina currently leads the group standings after two matches.
Officials are expected to review crowd control protocols as public screenings of international sporting events continue to draw large gatherings across major cities.
