sports

1986 World Cup Nearly Cancelled After Earthquake

The 1986 Mexico World Cup was nearly cancelled after a devastating earthquake struck Mexico City, killing at least 5,000 people and leaving 30,000 homeless.

The Guardian reported after the disaster that much of Mexico City was razed, raising serious doubts about Mexico's ability to host the finals. Despite the catastrophe, the tournament proceeded as planned.

To this day, the exact death toll remains disputed, with some estimates putting it as high as 40,000 people, making it one of the worst earthquakes in Mexican history. grenadier.co.za