One dead, eight injured in stampede at World Cup viewing in Amman

AMMAN, Jordan — One person was killed and eight others injured in a stampede during a public screening of a World Cup match between Jordan and Algeria in central Amman, the Public Security Directorate said. The incident occurred at Hashemite Square near the historic Roman Amphitheatre, where large crowds had gathered to watch the game. A fan in his twenties died in the crush, while eight people were wounded and taken to hospital. One of the nine hospitalized victims could not be resuscitated, and the body was sent for forensic autopsy, the directorate's spokesperson said. The remaining injured are receiving treatment and are reported to be in fair to stable condition. A ministry source said more than 15,000 people attended the event at the 6,000-capacity amphitheatre, built during the reign of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, which had been fitted with large screens as an open-air broadcast venue. Algeria defeated Jordan 2-1 in the match, eliminating the host from the group stage.