A 39-year-old Moroccan woman has died after the national flag she was wearing became entangled in a motorcycle wheel while she was celebrating Morocco’s victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tragic incident occurred late on Saturday in Algeciras, Spain, as the woman was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle driven by her husband following Morocco’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Canada in the Round of 16.
According to witnesses, the Moroccan flag draped around the woman’s neck became caught in the motorcycle’s rear wheel, causing it to tighten around her neck and inflict fatal injuries.
Emergency services arrived at the scene, located at the junction of Getares Road and Avenida 28 de Febrero, where the woman was found in cardiac arrest.
Paramedics performed CPR before rushing her to Punta Europa Hospital, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Police confirmed that the victim’s husband tested negative for alcohol. Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding the accident, which took place in the San Garcia neighbourhood.
Algeciras Mayor Jose Ignacio Landaluce expressed his condolences following the tragedy, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the incident and that local authorities were providing support to the victim’s family.
“We stand with them in their grief,” he said.
Algeciras is home to one of Spain’s largest Moroccan communities, with around 10,000 Moroccan residents among the city’s population of approximately 128,000.
Morocco secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals after defeating hosts Canada 3-0, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi added a third goal in stoppage time.
The incident bears similarities to a tragedy following the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when 22-year-old Argentine supporter Sebastian Oscar Maciel died after the flag around his shoulders became caught in his motorcycle wheel while celebrating Argentina’s victory over France.
